Bars Cleared of Wrongdoing in Riley Strain Drinking Investigation
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has concluded that the bars where Riley Strain drank prior to his death are not to blame for serving him while he was clearly intoxicated.
After a thorough investigation lasting several months, the TABC released its findings on Thursday, stating there was no definitive evidence from eyewitness accounts, interviews, or surveillance footage indicating that bartenders knowingly served alcohol to Riley while he was visibly drunk.
The investigation meticulously reconstructed the events of the night, based on testimonies from several of Riley’s fraternity brothers.
According to these accounts, the group visited multiple bars that evening, starting at Miranda Lambert’s bar, then moving to Garth Brooks’ establishment, and subsequently entering Luke Bryan’s bar for the first time.
After spending some time there, they proceeded to Kid Rock’s bar before deciding to return to Luke Bryan’s.
One of Riley’s fraternity brothers reported that Riley had consumed at least seven drinks by this point and was slurring his speech, leading them to get him two waters.
The report details that when Riley attempted to close out a tab at Luke Bryan’s bar, it was discovered he had no open tab, prompting the bartender to alert security to remove him from the premises.
Despite his level of intoxication, the TABC noted that Riley appeared stable on his feet at all four venues they visited, suggesting that the bars did not overserve him.
Tragically, after leaving the bar, surveillance footage captured Riley navigating the streets with varying degrees of steadiness, sometimes walking normally and at other times stumbling.
His disappearance culminated in a heartbreaking discovery weeks later when his body was found at a concrete plant near the Cumberland River. The coroner has ruled Riley’s death accidental, attributing it to drowning and ethanol intoxication.
Bars Cleared of Wrongdoing in Riley Strain Drinking Investigation
