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Nothing says “corporate Christmas party” quite like being served a cocktail that doubles as a live demonstration of why physics should be respected. At Moscow’s Igra Stolov “Game of Tables” culinary studio, guests were treated to a flashy cryo-show by an unnamed celebrity chef, because apparently the real spirit of the holidays is ingesting substances that boil at –196°C. Fog spilled dramatically over paper cups, guests laughed and filmed, and nobody—shockingly—mentioned that liquid nitrogen is not a fun little garnish but a volatile substance that can turn your digestive system into a science fair volcano. In the middle of the applause, a 38-year-old guest named Sergey was allegedly encouraged to drink immediately, because waiting for evaporation is for amateurs and people who enjoy having an intact stomach.
The result was less “wow factor” and more “call an ambulance.” A now-viral video shows Sergey taking a sip, nitrogen vapor bursting from his mouth like a cursed party trick, followed by him collapsing in agony. Doctors later confirmed his stomach ruptured after the liquid nitrogen rapidly expanded inside his body—an inconvenient but well-documented feature of reality. He survived after emergency surgery and intensive care, while experts once again reminded the world that liquid nitrogen should never be consumed directly. So let this holiday season serve as a gentle reminder: if your drink is smoking, hissing, and requires a disclaimer longer than the cocktail menu, maybe don’t drink it—no matter how famous the chef or how festive the fog.