Bars Investigated by the TABC

El Aventurero Bar Investigated by TABC

Considering A Dram Shop Case Against El Aventurero Bar? Here's What You Need To Know

I've been suing irresponsible bars for over-serving alcohol for 30 years. My experience handling hundreds of cases has repeatedly shown me just how many bars fail to follow alcohol service regulations, as well as the tragedies that all too often result. While people might see or hear about a drunk driving accident from time to time, they don't tend to hear about the role that reckless bars play in those accidents. In order to call more attention to this issue, I dedicate a portion 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, don't hesitate to call me at (855) 326-0000.

El Aventurero Bar is located in El Paso, Texas. In recent years, it has attracted the attention of the TABC due to allegations of liquor law violations. In 2018 alone, authorities conducted five separate investigations into the bar's alcohol service practices.

In my experience, it is 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, 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 El Aventurero Bar for possible criminal or administrative violations.

TABC Investigations of El Aventurero Bar in 2018


El Paso - 247 S Zaragoza Road

Allegations:

Law enforcement contacted the TABC on 02/07/2018, alleging that a breach of the peace (typically a fight) occurred and that the bar failed to report it (a separate violation in itself).

Upon investigation, authorities were able to confirm that the bar failed to report a breach of the peace, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC closed the case on 03/05/2018.

A second law enforcement complaint, dated 04/03/2018, brought the TABC back to investigate further allegations that a breach of the peace took place and that the bar failed to report it.

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 04/20/2018.

Another law enforcement complaint, filed on 05/15/2018, claimed that the bar sold alcohol to an intoxicated person.

Authorities looked into the matter shortly thereafter. Even when the source of a complaint is a police officer, 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 07/05/2018.

A member of the El Paso community reached out to the TABC on 08/29/2018, alleging that the bar sold alcohol to a minor, an intoxicated person, and during prohibited hours.

The ensuing investigation was able to confirm the second allegation, which authorities classified as an administrative violation. After handing down an unspecified penalty, the TABC concluded its work on the case on 09/12/2018.

The next law enforcement complaint to reach the TABC came on 09/26/2018, claiming that a breach of the peace occurred.

As mentioned in a 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 10/10/2018.

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.