A young woman has been living without her physical stomach (yes, a major part of the digestive system!) for nearly the past three years after she was forced to undergo an emergency surgery to remove the ruined organ following a free shot at a bar in the UK. Now, the bar has been hit with a $155,000 fine three years later, for serving the woman a nitrogen shot that was not properly prepared.

October 7, 2012, Gaby Scanlon was celebrating her 18th birthday with friends at Oscar’s Wine Bar, when the staff served her a complimentary shot known as the “Nitro-Jagermeister.” Immediately upon downing the shot, smoke began to come out of Scanlon’s nose and mouth, and she experienced severe pain in her stomach. Tissue within her intestine was severely damaged and her stomach lining became perforated, requiring immediate emergency surgery to save her life. As a result, Scanlon’s entire stomach was removed and her remaining intestine was attached directly to her esophagus.

Since the procedure, Scanlon’s diet is limited and she sometimes still experiences extreme waves of pain.

The owners of the bar claim to be mortified of the incident and while apologizing for their own ignorance, have said that “at no time did they see anything warning them of the risks of ingestion.”

It’s your birthday? Here’s a free shot… not so fast!

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