An intoxicated man threatened to kill a bar worker and his family during a confrontation outside the Sam Adams Taproom in downtown Boston.
Footage filmed by an onlooker shows the man repeatedly shouting at the employee after being asked to leave the venue over what were described as “inappropriate comments”.
During the two-and-a-half-minute recording, the man is heard saying “I’m gonna kill you” several times while hurling abuse at the worker. He also called him a “maggot” and paced along the pavement as the employee attempted to reason with him.
The man, who was wearing a Bruins T-shirt, pointed at the employee and warned that he would “kill his family”. The worker largely remained composed and did not respond to the insults.
Another man later intervened in an attempt to calm the situation. The confrontation prompted reactions from people nearby after racist language was used during the exchange.
Dave DeCecco, head of communications at The Boston Beer Company, said Boston Police assisted in removing the guest after the incident escalated.
“We’re proud of how our coworkers handled a challenging situation, as they all remained calm and respectful throughout the duration of the incident,” he said.
The footage prompted concern online about the seriousness of the threats, while others praised the employee for maintaining his composure.
The Sam Adams Taproom is in one of Boston’s busiest areas and is known for its speciality beers and large crowds.
Public intoxication is not a crime in Massachusetts. Police can place intoxicated people in protective custody rather than arrest them, although an aggressive individual can be charged under Chapter 272, Section 53 of Massachusetts law.
