What Is an Angel Shot? Why Should You Implement it?

An "Angel Shot" is an action taken by a customer who feels unsafe when they're out drinking or dining. Employees can intervene and potentially prevent a dangerous situation from occurring.

What Is Angel Shot & Why Should Implement It

Angel Shot Meaning

The Angel Shot is not a shot or any drink at all. It is basically something that a patron or customer can order to let the staff at a bar or restaurant know that they feel unsafe. By intervening in an unsafe situation, employees can help prevent a dangerous incident from occurring.

Importance

According to statistics, every 68 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted in the U.S. Eight out of ten times, the person who commits the crime is someone whom the victim knows well. It’s no surprise that so many organizations are trying to reduce the rates of sexual violence in the United States.

In this way, you can conform to the Me Too Movement, which is an effort to effect social change, organized primarily through social media, where it’s often expressed as #MeToo. If you run a bar or restaurant, setting up an Angel Shot policy may help to keep your guests safe. You can use it to show your customers that they're important to you.

How to Ask for an Angel Shot?

There are different kinds of angel shots that customers can "order" to reveal how threatened they are and the kind of support they need. An angel shot may use this to avoid catfish dates, or even might save their life. Below we’ll go through the most common types of angel shots. You can offer other kinds of safety shots in addition to the ones mentioned above, so customers have more choices when they're in an unsafe situation.

Decoding Angel Shot Codes:

• "Angel Shot Neat" or "Angel Shot Straight Up" - “I need an escort to my car.”
• "Angel Shot on Ice" or "Angel Shot on the Rocks" - “Please get me a cab or Uber"
• "Angel Shot with a Twist" or "..Lemon/Lime" - “I am in immediate danger. Please call the police.”

Origins of the Term

United Kingdom

The Angel Shot was born out of the “Ask for Angela” campaign that began in Lincolnshire, England. This campaign was created to encourage individuals who feel unsafe on dates or around others to ask for an escort. When staff received the request, they would either contact a taxi driver or order a ride share and help the person leave the situation discreetly - and safely.

United States

The “Ask for Angela" campaign is called the "Angel Shot." If a patron requests an Angel Shot, they're feeling unsafe or they are in an uncomfortable situation in some manner. Staff members can help patrons leave the establishment or remove someone else from the premises if they're causing trouble.

Do All Bartenders Know What an Angel Shot Is

Most people now understand what an "angels' shot" is. There are bartenders who don't know how to properly "serve" an angel shot and won't be able to respond quickly, confidently, and discreetly when a customer asks for one. Your bartenders need basic training when it comes to "angel shot" is and how to handle them appropriately.

How Bartenders Should Respond to Angel Shots

If you've got a plan in place for how employees should react when a customer asks for an "angels' drink," they'll be able to act confidently. Below we've listed some tips for handling an angel shot order.

• Ask for clarification: If the customer doesn’t specify which kind of angel shot they need, ask them for clarification.
• Ask for assistance from coworkers/managers: Notify them that a customer ordered an angel shot. The other staff member could call for the extra assistance needed and alert the rest of his/her colleagues, bouncers, and managers.
• Never leave the customer's side: Alert staff members that they should remain with the customer until the police or their ride arrives.
• Accompany the customer: When the patron requests an Angel Shot Neat, have the bartender notify the other staff members that the "angel shot is ready". Have a security guard or a team of servers escort guests to their vehicles.
  • If a customer is sitting at his/her table when he/she orders an Angel Shot Neat, tell him/her you have some special deals at the counter and ask him/her to go to the counter to see the menu. When at the bar, alert other employees and together escort them to the parking lot.

(See more: Bartending Tips that You Should Know)

How to Implement Angel Shot in Your Bar/ Restaurant

Should Your Bar Offer Angel Shots?

Below we've listed some of the top advantages of using angel shots.

• Cost-efficient safety protocol: Aside from putting up the signs on bathrooms, Angel shots are safety initiatives that don't cost anything to put into place.
• Protection for your patrons: These extra steps ensure they are in a safe situation and it also builds brand loyalty. Restaurant or bar patrons would really appreciate having angel shots available because it demonstrates that you care about their well-being. People tend to frequent restaurants and bars where they feel they are in a safe environment and well taken care of.

Angel Shot Sign

The main benefits of angel shots include removing a patron from a dangerous or bad situation without attracting attention. Place "Angels Shot" signs in the bathroom of your establishment.

Angel Shot Signs Should Include:

• An explanation of what an angel shot is 
• Encouragement that even if it doesn't feel right, it's worth ordering an Angel Shot for any occasion that feels off.
• Explain the different types of angels" shot
• The telephone number for the national sexual assault hotline

Where to Hang Angel Shot Signs

After making your angel shot sign, choose where to hang it. Some bar staff opt-out pitting "angel shot" signs in men's restrooms so that the male patrons won't know they're there. However, this may prevent men from seeking help. Sexual harassment among males is also possible and in fact, underreported.

A workaround would be to create two different types of angel shots for men and women that are exclusively available at your bar. Make sure there are signs explaining what each set of angel shot drink names means for men's/womens' restrooms.

Angel shots are growing in popularity thanks to social media trends. Content creators put up renditions and explanations of what an angel shot is so having unique drinks and signs for men and women would help keep your sexual violence prevention efforts discretionary. In instances wherein the perpetrator knows what an angel shot, the victim attempting to order one can be in even greater danger. Make sure to train your bar or restaurant staff to stay with the patron who ordered the angel shot until they are safe and away from their harasser.

Another problem that may occur is that these unique angel shots and signs for men and women cannot protect non-binary guests. Create nonbinary bathroom stalls and nonbinary angel shots if your space allows. Put up posters to let your customers know that your business is a safe and supportive space for the LGBTQIA+ population. If messages from the top encourage nondiscrimination and safety, they can be used to prevent violence and harassment.