Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Crafthouse Kitchen & Tap? Here's What You Need To Know
In the 30 years that I've been suing reckless bars for over-serving alcohol, I've handled hundreds of cases. My experience has shown me time and again just how many bars consistently fail to follow alcohol service regulations. While people might see or hear of a drunk driving accident now and then, it is less common for them to hear about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. One of my goals is to increase the public's awareness of this issue. With that in mind, I dedicate some of my time to reviewing the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint records and reporting my findings here on my website. If you think you may have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and have questions about how to proceed, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
Crafthouse Kitchen & Tap is located San Marcos, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC on multiple occasions due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2016 and 2018, authorities conducted three separate investigations into alcohol service practices at Crafthouse Kitchen & Tap.
In my experience, it's uncommon for a bar without a history of run-ins with the TABC to end up on the hook for contributing to a wrongful death or injury. Virtually every bar I have ever sued was already on the authorities' radar. That's why I pay close attention to bars with several recent complaints against them. The more investigations a bar has had, the greater my concern is that it could one day cause an accident.
Note: Investigations are not proof of wrongdoing. However, if authorities investigate and fail to find evidence of a violation, it doesn't necessarily mean an establishment is innocent, either. The purpose of this article is simply to relay publicly-available information about incidents where the TABC has investigated Crafthouse Kitchen & Tap for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Crafthouse Kitchen & Tap Between 2016 and 2018
San Marcos - 242 N LBJ Drive
Allegations:
On 11/04/2016, the TABC received a complaint from an unnamed source, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor.
Authorities followed up soon after with an investigation. For most liquor law violations, the TABC requires either video footage of the incident or eyewitness testimony from one of its agents in order to take action. In this particular instance, authorities had neither. As a result, the case came to a close on 12/20/2016.
A member of the San Marcos community contacted the TABC on 04/03/2018, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to an underage patron.
The ensuing investigation was able to prove the veracity of the claim, which resulted in citations for both criminal and administrative violations. After deciding not to hand down any punishment, authorities closed the case on 05/17/2018.
Law enforcement reached out to the TABC on 09/04/2018, alleging that staff was drinking on the job.
While TABC agents failed to turn up any evidence to support the claim, it did manage to find proof that the bar sold alcohol to a patron who was already drunk. After issuing a violation notice, investigators closed the case without further action on 10/12/2018.
Texas Law Says Accident Victims Can Sue Bad Bars
If you would like to learn more about Texas dram shop law (i.e. lawsuits against bars who play a role in injurious or fatal accidents), please visit our Texas Dram Shop Law Info Page.
