Bar fined £100,000 for near-fatal nitrogen cocktail
A bar has been fined £100,000 for serving a teenager a shot containing liquid nitrogen that left her close to death and in need of having her stomach removed.
Oscar’s Wine Bar and Bistro has been fined £100,000 after serving a liquid nitrogen cocktail that left a teenage girl fighting for her lifeOscar’s Wine Bar and Bistro, based in Lancaster, the UK, was ordered to pay the fine by Preston Crown Court yesterday.
The venue served two shots of Jagermeister containing liquid nitrogen to Gabby Scanlon who was out celebrating her 18th birthday with friends in October 2012.
Scanlon, now 20, soon began complaining of severe stomach pains and smoke billowed from her nose and mouth. After experiencing what she described as an “explosion” in her stomach, she was taken to Lancaster Royal Infirmary where a CT scan revealed a large perforation where the liquid nitrogen had burned a hole in her stomach and completely destroyed the lining.
Doctors performed a four-hour emergency operation to remove her stomach and connected her oesophagus directly to her small intestine.
Court proceedings against Oscar’s Wine Bar started in December last year, and the venue pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations in June 2015.
The bar’s director Andrew Dunn pleaded not guilty in the case, while charges were dropped against the barman who served the drink, Matthew Harding, after he pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said they would not present evidence against Dunn if he paid £20,000 towards the prosecution court costs.
Scalan’s Lawyer said she still suffers “agonising pain” and is unable to work full time due to illness.
According to The Guardian, judge Pamela Badley said on passing sentence: “It’s astonishing that no risk assessment had ever been carried out. There was a failure to heed warnings and advice from a senior health and safety officer. Overall there is evidence of serious systemic failings within the organisation.”
The publication also reports that senior health and safety officer Peter Lord had visited the premises in May 2012 and sent a letter with guidance on use of liquid nitrogen in drinks soon after.
