Going to a bar can be a slippery slope. One moment everything is completely fine, and the next, someone’s slurring their speech, staggering, and spilling drinks. That’s usually when bartenders consider cutting a patron off.
Cutting off a customer can be tricky, though. Telling a bar-goer they can’t have more alcohol can lead to an awkward—and potentially aggressive—situation. But some bartenders have found creative ways to serve their customers safe, non-alcoholic beverages without tipping them off.
One such hospitality worker is currently going viral for figuring out a cutoff method involving an incredibly simple deceptive drink. Britt (@excusebritt) shared that she served her customer who requested more liquor a “melted snowman.” Her video has more than 872,000 views.
What Is A Melted Snowman?
While one might think that a “melted snowman” refers to a Christmas shot with peppermint schnapps and chocolate vodka, that isn’t the “melted snowman” Britt is referring to.
A melted snowman, in this circumstance, refers to a “shot” that only has “melted ice” or water in it—no alcohol.
Some viewers are familiar with the phrase.
“Yes the melted snowman! I’ve always called it that and I moved to Florida and not one coworker/bartender has known what that is,” one commenter said.
Other viewers recommended alternatives to the “melted snowman.” Soda, lemonade, cranberry juice, and ginger ale were all favored as alternative decoys for customers. Some commenters even had specific mocktail recipes involving components like sour mix.
@excusebritt Shhhhhhhhh! #bartender #fyp #safetyfirst #serviceindustry 🤭
Why Would A Bartender Serve A Non-Alcoholic Beverage?
Outside of serving water, bartenders have a longstanding history of offering customers decoys when they’re close to drinking one too many. But why do bartenders across the country even care?
Switching out the drink isn’t just for the customer’s safety. Fox News reports that a quick switch can help prevent future liability for the bar.
“In many states, bartenders and commercial alcohol servers can be held liable for damages or injuries caused by drunken patrons…” the publication reports.
This can take form in various ways. Dram shop lawsuits, for instance, are one of the most common litigation methods bars face after overserving. According to FindLaw, “dram shop” refers to “civil laws that hold bars, restaurants, and other alcohol-serving establishments legally liable for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons they overserved.” In 2025, 42 states and the District of Columbia had dram shop laws.
In short, most bartenders don’t want the establishment they work at to get sued, nor do they want to accrue any legal risk by overserving.
BroBible reached out to Britt via TikTok direct message and Instagram direct message for comment.