Downtown Riverside’s El Patron restaurant has temporarily lost its privilege to sell alcohol, after the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control ruled that the restaurant knowingly provided alcoholic drinks to an underage employee, which resulted in her death, officials announced on Friday, Oct. 3.
The department said it opened an investigation right after the teenage employee died to find out where the alcohol she consumed came from.
The restaurant, at 3204 Mission Inn Ave., has been banned from selling alcohol for 45 days.
Video surveillance showed the on-duty restaurant manager giving the 19-year-old hostess multiple alcoholic beverages on Dec, 10, 2024, the night she died, the department said in a news release. She reportedly showed clear signs of intoxication, it stated.
The hostess left the restaurant with another coworker, who pulled over on the shoulder of the 91 Freeway as the two got into an argument, according to the department.
“The 19-year-old exited the vehicle, ran into traffic, and was killed. An autopsy showed her blood alcohol level was 0.30%,” the news release said.
“Keeping alcohol out of the hands of underage people can help prevent tragedies like this,” ABC Director Paul Tupy said in a statement. “It’s paramount that licensees serve responsibly and follow the law when it comes to providing alcohol to minors.”
Any similar violations could lead to the restaurant permanently losing its alcohol license, the department warned.
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