DC Bar Proprietor Faces Backlash For Posting Underage Ingesting Recommendations on TikTok

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The TikTok page of Seth McClelland, the bar owner behind Never Looked Better in downtown Shaw and the Mirror, is full of extravagant drinking tips, including a video of him hitting a bottle of Tito’s titled “How to get fugged up” chugs and another titled “How Not to Pass out.” But it’s his tips for underage drinkers that are now causing backlash.

In a video about what to order when using a fake ID, McClelland recommends avoiding Long Island Iced Tea or Sex on the Beach – or anything with “sex” in the name. “This is what you get: a gin gimlet, because nobody under 30 knows what the hell that is,” he says.

In a “Part Two” segment, McClelland revised his suggestion: “To be honest, if you’re a girl, get yourself a glass of champagne. And if you’re a guy get a Bud Light and a shot from Jameson. It’s easy, you won’t think twice. Definitely don’t get a buttery nipple. “

McClelland appears to have since deleted the videos, but they were captured by the Save Blagden Alley Instagram account, which documents overcrowded dumpsters, urine cups, crime and other issues affecting historic Shaw Alley.

“PROTECTING CHILDREN. BOYCOTT @neverlookedbetterdc and @themirrordc, ”wrote Save Blagden Alley, tagging Mayor Bowser, councilors and DC police. “This guy owns both bars and he does that on @tiktok, which is public. That’s more than *% # * ^ above. “

McClelland did not respond to a request for comment.

Der Spiegel received a warning from the DC Spirits Committee in January 2020 for the sale to a minor; Never looked better was never cited for such violations.

McClelland previously consulted on a K Street whisper pub called The Speak, which turned out to be a little too real. The hidden bar, located where the Mirror is now, has been closed twice by the city for operating without a proper liquor license.

Food editor

Jessica Sidman shares the people and trends behind the DC food and drink scene. Prior to joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was the Food Editor and Young & Hungry Columnist at Washington City Paper. She is from Colorado and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

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