My dearly departed Mother was a black licorice lover until her cardiologist told her not to eat it anymore. Supposedly, it's not good for people with heart conditions.
Sorry about your mom. My grandson once told me that they don’t have licorice in heaven because all things there are white and licorice is black so it’s not allowed. Re things not being good for you, I have decided that if you want to try hard enough you can find something on the internet that says something is bad for you and something else that says it is good for you.
So, since the course of one’s life is so unknown, always eat dessert first and keep a box of licorice in your bedside table so you can have a snack before you go to bed.
Regarding the flaming Sambuca, the last time we visited our special Italian restaurant I expressed disappointment that it wasn’t flaming anymore. The waiter, who is also one of the owner’s sons, told us the story about the ban then he left but reappeared shortly with a lighter in his hand so we did get to enjoy it after all. BTW, the owner used to sing opera in Italy and if often known to stand in the middle of the restaurant and burst into song. It’s an awesome place to go if you are ever in Scottsdale, Arizona.