Considering A Dram Shop Case Against Alamo Bar & Grill? Here's What You Need To Know
My firm has sued more bars for liquor law violations than any other in Texas. In my over 30 years of experience, I have repeatedly seen just how serious the consequences can be when bars over-serve alcohol. While the public might see or hear about a drunk driving accident from time to time, it's much less common to hear about the role that irresponsible bars play in those accidents. One of my goals is to raise awareness about the extent of this problem. To this end, I dedicate some of my time to investigating Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission complaint records and reporting what I find here on my website. If you think you might have a dram shop (liquor liability) claim and would like to learn about how to proceed, please call me at (855) 326-0000.
Alamo Bar & Grill is located in Houston, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. Between 2018 and 2019 alone, authorities conducted three separate investigations into the bar's alcohol service practices.
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 contribute to 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 Alamo Bar & Grill for possible criminal or administrative violations.
TABC Investigations of Alamo Bar & Grill Between 2018 and 2019
Houston - 7846 Fallbrook Drive
Allegations:
On 10/02/2018, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the TABC , alleging that staff was drinking on the job and sold alcohol to a minor, an intoxicated person, and during prohibited hours.
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 12/15/2018.
A member of the Houston community reached out to the TABC on 02/01/2019, claiming that the bar sold alcohol to a drunk customer.
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 05/09/2019.
The TABC received a citizen complaint on 04/05/2019, accusing staff of drinking on the job and selling alcohol to a drunk person, a minor, and during prohibited hours.
While the ensuing investigation failed to find any evidence to support the initial allegations, it did manage to find evidence that the bar failed to report a breach of the peace (typically a fight), which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After issuing a written warning, the TABC closed the case on 05/26/2019.
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.
