To ask or not to ask

[doodlyfiddly]

You're in a queue for a busy ice cream counter. As you stand and wait, you watch the server pick up cones and fill them, take money and give change. Over and over. When it comes to your turn, do you ask them to wash their hands first? AIBU or not?

Yabu to see that and still stay in the queue to buy an ice cream tbh.
The British stiff upper lip thing too, it's such an excruciating thing to ask because it's not just a request, it's effectively pointing out their lack of hygiene to the whole queue and she then has to either wash her hands between people now for everyone and she's already feeling stressed about the long queue and people waiting, or carry on not washing her hands while her and the people she's serving both have "she didn't wash her hands" foremost in their minds. It's all just so, so awkward. No I don't think I could bring myself to.

I’d get a tub instead or not eat the cone

Oh dear....this is why I hate seeing my food prepared.
This is not helpful in anyway but i purposefully dont watch-what I dont see wont hurt me.
Terrible advice but as I suffer with ocd its a coping technique to get me through the day.

Of course you ask!

If you stay in the queue at all. I'd have gone elsewhere.

I used to work on an ice cream counter. One hand was in a glove, this hand touched the cone only. The other hand handled cash, the scoop handle, the cabinet cover thingy and worked the til. If I needed two hands for something, glove came off and when I served the next customer a new glove went on.

Honestly, before covid, it wouldn't have bothered me. Now...? I'd notice, and if it really bothered me, I'd step out the line. But in all honesty, I'd either get an ice-cream that was wrapped, like a Cornetto or something, or ask for it in a tub.

But I'm actually a bit surprised that something like this is open at the moment! If it was just giving wrapped food items, fair enough, but face to face food prep? I'm not sure I'd go for it right now.