Considering A Dram Shop Case Against 1800 Bar and Kitchen? Here's What You Need To Know
I've sued more reckless bars for failing to adhere to liquor laws than anyone else in the state of Texas. With three decades of experience and hundreds of cases behind me, I have seen just how frequently bars put profit before safety and over-serve alcohol, in spite of their legal obligation to serve responsibly. While people might see or hear of drunk driving accidents from time to time, they don't tend to hear as much about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. In order to raise more awareness of this topic, I spend a portion of my time researching the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's complaint database and writing about my findings here on my website. If you think you might have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim, don't hesitate to call my office at (855) 326-0000.
1800 Bar and Kitchen is a bar and grill located in Eagle Pass, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC on numerous occasions due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2017 and 2019, authorities conducted seven investigations into the bar's alcohol service practices.
In my three decades of legal practice, rarely have I seen bar end up involved in a wrongful death or injury case that didn't have a history of complaints on file with TABC. Almost every bar I've ever sued was already on the authorities radar, so when I see a bar that has been investigated several times over a short period, it raises my concern that it could one day play a part in an accident.
Note: Investigations are not proof of wrongdoing. However, if authorities investigate and fail to find evidence, 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 1800 Bar and Kitchen for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of 1800 Bar and Kitchen Between 2017 and 2019
Eagle Pass - 404 S Texas Drive Suite 300
Allegations:
On 02/02/2017, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to both a minor and an intoxicated person.
Authorities looked into the matter shortly thereafter. 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. Having neither in this investigation, authorities decided to close the case on 04/08/2017.
A member of the Eagle Pass community reached out to the TABC on 05/03/2017, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a minor and that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) occurred.
As mentioned in the previous investigation summary, the TABC relies heavily on video footage to back up most claims of wrongdoing. Since authorities had no such evidence in this investigation, they could not take any action, leading to their decision to close the case on 06/14/2017.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 06/21/2017, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a minor and that a breach of the peace took place.
TABC agents conducted an inquiry, but due to a lack of video evidence, they could not determine the veracity of the claim. As a result, investigators could not take any further action, leading to their decision to close the case on 06/23/2017.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 09/27/2017, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk person and that a breach of the peace occurred.
After a month and a half of investigation, authorities still had not managed to uncover any corroborating evidence. Unable to take any further action, the TABC closed the case on 11/16/2017.
A second law enforcement complaint came on 11/14/2018, accusing the bar of selling alcohol to a minor.
Upon investigation, authorities were able to confirm the allegation, which they classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC closed the case on 12/29/2018.
A citizen complaint, filed on 04/23/2019, alleged that the bar sold alcohol to an underage customer.
The TABC looked into the allegation, but ultimately failed to turn up any hard evidence to support it. Left with no other course of action, investigators closed the case on 06/27/2019.
Law enforcement contacted the TABC again on 12/10/2019, claiming that a breach of the peace occurred and that the bar failed to report it (a separate violation in itself).
As is so often the case, TABC agents were not able to uncover sufficient evidence to support the claim. As a result, they chose to conclude their efforts on the case on 02/04/2020.
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.
