Last week, Scoop brought news of a new amendment to California food safety law that bans bare-handed food contact in restaurants. It’s a regulation that has received the scorn — not to mention eye-rolling — of chefs and diners alike, even though the state has agreed for a soft enforcement period in the first half of the year.

This week, the Los Angeles Times smartly points to another area affected by the new law: bars.

Since “food employees shall not contact exposed, ready-to-eat food with their bare hands,” bartenders must wear gloves or use tweezers or other utensils when touching ice, garnishes or similar ingredients that go directly in the drink. The Times reports:

“Technically speaking, these rules do apply to bars,” says Angelica Pappas, a spokeswoman for the California Restaurant Assn. “It’s been a common question we’ve heard … so there may be more information to come on this in guidance documents from the health inspectors.”

Well, that will certainly take some of the romanticism out of twists or a toothpick-spiked martini olive. Also, California cocktail photography will never be the same.

Bartender people: Your thoughts?

· Previously: California bans bare-handed food contact in restaurants [Inside Scoop]