Old Port bartenders tell customers to ‘look out for each other’ after women report being drugged

Ashley Sanborn, a bartender at Gritty McDuff’s, shares a laugh with a customer as she serves a beer at the bar in the Old Port on Tuesday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Reports of two women being drugged at an Old Port bar last week seem to clash with Maine’s reputation as one of the safest states in the country. But bartenders and tourists along Wharf Street on Tuesday said that they were not surprised to learn about predatory behavior in Portland.

“There’s weirdos everywhere,” said Ashley Sanborn, a bartender at Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub who has worked in Portland bars for about seven years. “There’s people who want to hurt people everywhere.”

Portland police have not released the name of the establishment where two women say they were drugged while drinking alcohol on Thursday. Spokesperson Brad Nadeau said the decision not to name the bar came at the advice of the department’s lawyers.

But Sanborn said that the women were drugged at Rathskeller on Wharf, referencing a woman’s social media post about being drugged that other people interviewed in the Old Port also mentioned.

A bartender at the Rathskeller declined to answer questions about the allegations and directed reporters to her manager. He did not respond to requests to discuss the incident and how the bar’s staff was supporting the investigation.

The decision by police to not share the name of the bar with the public perplexed Sanborn, who said she thought arming the public with knowledge was an important step in staying safe.

“In my opinion as a bartender, it wouldn’t be trashing the establishment – it could literally happen anywhere,” she said. “It’s just about safety. People are trying to look out for each other.”

NEVER UNATTENDED

After taking date-rape drugs like Rohypnol, or “roofies,” victims can suddenly feel extremely disoriented, confused and nauseous even if they’ve had little alcohol, police said. It can take hours for people to fully recover, and they may have holes in their memory, making it difficult for authorities to track down those responsible.

Police warn bargoers to never leave their drinks unattended – a tip that has become official policy at Bonfire Country Bar, which neighbors the Rathskeller.

Elena Bravo-Taylor 29, and Lauren Ross 29, both of North Carolina, walk down Wharf Street in the Old Port on Tuesday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Whenever someone takes their hands and eyes off their glass, even if it’s just to turn around for a quick conversation with a friend, Jillian Petersen and her fellow bartenders are told to dump the drink.

Petersen, who has worked at Bonfire for four years, said patrons are often upset when they return to their spot and find their beer has been spilled down the drain. But once she explains the policy, most guests are appreciative.

“Usually the girl is like, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t even think about it!'” she said.

Tourists, especially, tend to view Portland as a safe place where they don’t need to worry, Petersen said.

But while a police spokesperson said Tuesday that the department has received few calls of people being drugged this year, predatory behavior is not new in Maine bars. In 2019, a spate of similar reports in Portland, Saco and Biddeford prompted authorities to warn the public about the risks of being drugged.

AN UNFAIR BURDEN

A pair of tourists on Wharf Street on Tuesday told reporters that they had both become more cautious after being drugged at bars in other cities.

Whitney Wood, of Chicago, Sophie Power, of Dublin, Ireland, Myles Pace, of New York City, and Ailbhe Kennedy, of Dublin, Ireland, have drinks outside at Amigos Restaurant & Bar on Tuesday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Myles Pace, of New York City, thought that he wasn’t at risk because he was a man. But soon after he picked up a drink one night that had originally been intended for someone else, he realized that he had been drugged. Since then, he said he avoids strangers and sticks to friends when he’s out on weekend nights.

Sophie Power, visiting from Ireland, said she was just 19 years old when her drink was spiked in Dublin. Now, she always makes sure to cover her glass.

Everyone interviewed in the Old Port Tuesday agreed that the risk of being drugged existed everywhere, including Portland. Many offered advice, from going out in a large group to ordering cans of seltzer with small punch tabs that make it more difficult to slip drugs into.

Police advise people not to accept drinks from others, and watch bartenders pour and serve each order.

But even as she recognized the need for people to take steps to defend themselves, Sanborn said it was frustrating that the conversation continued to center on the actions of victims, rather than perpetrators.

“I think I kind of have the mindset that you can never be too careful,” she said. “But also it sucks that women in particular have to especially be on guard all the time.”