A woman on TikTok has shared the reason she refused a drink offered to her by a stranger at a bar, sparking a conversation about safety.
Maranda Howard visited a popular Dallas venue on October 20 where a man bought her a drink. However, when she noticed something unusual about it, she refused to drink it.
Howard shared her experience on TikTok earlier this month in a video that currently has over 13 million views.
In the video, Howard said explained that a man in the bar had bought her a drink, a lemon drop cocktail. When it arrived, she realized she hadn’t watched it being prepared and saw some sort of red powder inside.
Spotting an unfamiliar substance in the glass, Howard’s concerns grew. “We’re scared,” she said in the video. When she asked the bartender to make a fresh drink, he said “no.” Rather than risking the suspicious drink, she discarded it and left soon after.
Within hours of Howard posting her story, she said the restaurant’s owner reached out to her and said they would investigate the incident. Newsweek reached out to the bar via email for comment.
“I am always cautious about my drink,” Howard told Newsweek. “Once I saw the substance in the drink that was inconsistent with the drink I ordered, I asked to have a new drink made.”
Howard pointed to a recent experience in the audience of a Dr. Phil episode focused on drink spiking, which made her especially vigilant.
@damnranda_/TikTok
Meanwhile, comments on Howard’s TikTok video in the comments section came from both patrons and bartenders alike.
“As a bartender, I would naturally remake that drink! I’m so confused as to why he didn’t,” one TikTok user wrote.
While another user and former bartender added: “My first question would have been: ‘Are you okay?'”
Others on the social media platform praised Howard’s vigilance. “Better safe than sorry,” said one commenter. While another wrote: “I’m glad you advocated for yourself!”
“I just wanted to share my experience. I did not expect the video to gain traction like it did,” Howard told Newsweek. “I just want others to be careful! You never know what someone’s intentions are whether that’s sexual assault, trafficking, robbery, and the list goes on.”
According to a 2023 survey of 969 people by American Addiction Centers, 44 percent of men and 56 percent of women reported unknowingly consuming spiked drinks or food at least once. Many of these incidents occurred during college years, indicating that millions of students could potentially encounter drink spiking.
“I just hope my video brings awareness for people to watch their drink like a hawk and don’t be afraid to ask for a remake or refuse the drink,” Howard said.
