Critics rip Texas bar that serves shots with live fish

EL PASO, Texas -- How do you like your alcohol? Shaken? Stirred? Or maybe with a fish swimming in it?

An online petition is calling on an El Paso bar to stop serving a shot that comes with a live minnow.

Zocalo Cantina, which is located on 1160 Airway Blvd., gives patrons a live minnow in a side cup so the customer can pour it into their drink and gulp it down.

The online petition, which is on Care2.com, notes that the fish are terrified prior to being swallowed alive.

"The fish get put into a shot glass of alcohol and panic in the cup just before being swallowed alive," the petition states.

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The petition has more than 4,000 electronic signatures from various states including Texas, Illinois and Florida.

The practice is "disgusting and cruel," El Paso resident Ryan Trujillo, said in a Care2 statement.

“Those poor fish did nothing wrong," said Trujillo. "I would probably barf if I drank that. I can’t help but imagine the fish wiggling down my throat."

Last week bar owner Eddie Velasquez told KVIA-Channel 7 news that he got the idea for the shot when he saw another bar in Dallas do it.

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KVIA-TV reported that because the minnow is offered as a side gift and the customer, not the bartender, puts it the drink, it is legal by health department standards.

Velasquez told the TV station that the response has been positive.