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That's the thing, you never could know. Back in the old days you would ask things like "hey you wanna maybe go out sometime" but now since that itself is an affront for which you can be publicly shamed without needing to be pushy or make unwanted physical contact, the only places acceptable to meet people are the bars and apps. I think the only way to fix it is to either create new public spaces centered around dating that don't center around alcohol, or to culturally shift back a little from "it isn't ok to ask a woman out anywhere but the bar" to "asking people out is ok as long as you take no for an answer the first time and don't push, and don't touch 'em."

Also you bring up an interesting point: consent to being talked to. If one needs to give consent to be talked to, and one cannot give consent under the influence of alcohol, then one cannot be spoken to while drinking, therefore I deduce the bar is the most inappropriate place to meet women and the gym is leagues more appropriate since everyone is mostly sober there. Watson! Get my gym shorts! (Yes this part was a joke, I hope the Sherlock Holmes reference was a clue to that.)