Bengaluru: What began as a fun evening for 28-year-old Soumya Nandal at a pub on upscale Brigade Road turned traumatic when a flaming Sambuca shot spilled on her face and hair, causing burn injuries. Nearly four years later, the Bengaluru Urban II consumer commission has held the pub responsible for negligence and ordered compensation of Rs 1 lakh for medical expenses, mental agony, and legal costs.
Flaming cocktail incident leaves woman injured
The incident occurred on November 20, 2021, when Soumya visited the pub with friends. Around 5 pm, the pub manager suggested trying the popular flaming Sambuca shots, cocktails set alight before serving. Soumya agreed, unaware of the risks.
According to her complaint, the manager mishandled the flaming drink while pouring it into her mouth, spilling the burning liquid on her face and hair. The flames immediately scorched her cheeks, forehead, and hair. Although staff applied cream to the burns promptly, the injuries were severe.
Soumya sought medical attention the following day, but the wounds became septic, resulting in infection, pus, and visible scarring. She remained homebound for nearly three months, enduring both physical pain and emotional distress.
Legal action and compensation claim
Soumya informed the commission that the burns affected her confidence, social interactions, and even marriage prospects. She claimed to have spent over Rs 5 lakh on medical and cosmetic treatments and took extended leave from work.
Ten days after the incident, she filed a police complaint against the pub owner and manager. On March 24, 2023, she approached the consumer commission seeking compensation for negligence and unsafe service.
In her plea, she argued that the pub failed to issue warnings or brief her on the risks of flaming shots, amounting to a “deficiency in service.”
Pub defence and commission’s verdict
The pub denied liability, claiming Soumya voluntarily ordered the drinks and caused the spill by moving her head. It also disputed knowledge of her subsequent medical treatments and labelled her Rs 10 lakh claim “exorbitant.”
The consumer commission, however, reviewed video evidence showing that Soumya had not moved her head and was a first-time consumer of flaming shots, attempting to spit out the drink when the burning sensation began. The court noted that the pub had failed to provide adequate safety instructions.
Acknowledging her suffering, the commission reduced the compensation to Rs 1 lakh, citing verified medical bills of Rs 58,139 and deeming the Rs 10 lakh demand unreasonable.
The order, dated October 10, 2025, emphasised that the pub’s failure to ensure customer safety constituted negligence and deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act.