I was with a mixed-gender group at an izakaya. A young Japanese woman who was not staff came to our private cubicle and tried to sell us some packets. I wasn't paying close attention to the conversation, so I don't know what they were discussing.
One woman from our group bought a packet of tablets, and ingested them. When I looked at the wrapper, it said うこん (tumeric). So it's pretty clear it was anti-hangover medicine.
Izakayas are not places where you talk to strangers, so it was weird for someone to go cubicle to cubicle selling tumeric. I feel like most restaurants anywhere would kick you out for soliciting other tables. Maybe she was raising money for tuition or something.
by CSachen