We’ve all been there—a blind date gone wrong or an online connection who has nothing in common with their Match profile. Sometimes things can get awfully awkward, and other times they can even be unsettling. If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation like this, chances are you’ve tried the usual excuses: sudden lactose intolerance, Mom’s in an emergency, etc. Well, now there’s a better solution.
Around the world, certain bars are implementing code words that women can use to discreetly signal they need help out of a bad (or potentially dangerous) date. The initiative is part of the #NoMore campaign against sexual violence, which involves putting up posters in women’s restrooms as well as public spaces that provide instructions to get out of an unsafe environment.
At a bar in London, a sign on the bathroom wall reads: “Are you on a date that isn’t working out? Is your Tinder or POF [Plenty of Fish] date not who they said they were on their profile? Do you feel like you’re not in a safe situation? Does it all feel a bit weird?” If so, the poster asks the reader to then find a bartender and ask for “Angela,” which will prompt staff to escort him or her out of the bar and into a taxi.
The concept quickly went viral, with some bars in Florida, Spain and even South Africa offering a variation of the “Ask for Angela” initiative, wherein the customer orders an Angel shot neat, with ice or with lime depending on the severity of the situation.
The campaign is a promising step toward the prevention of sexual assault, and although we hope we’d never have to use these words, we’re a bit more reassured knowing we can call on Angela should we find ourselves in these tricky spots.
