Keeling Over Dead-Drunk

"[Bradley Johnson left the Roxy in a state of] extreme intoxication [and shortly afterward injured himself]."

"There is both a legal and a common law prohibition against over-serving alcohol beverages -- a visibly intoxicated patron should never be served more alcohol."

Personal injury lawsuit, Vancouver

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Bradley Roger Johnson, a Vancouver pub bartender, finished his shift at the Kingston Taphouse and Grille at 11:00 p.m. Before he left his workplace he had two drinks. At 11:30 p.m. he wandered over to another establishment, the Studio Lounge and Nightclub, in the Granville area of Vancouver. There he enjoyed two ciders and two shots of whisky. An hour later he entered another bar, Relish, and there he relished "approximately four 12-ounce Lonetree ciders, a double vodka and soda and a shot of Jameson Whiskey".

 

In a total period of four hours on 23 of August, 2016, he consumed two double vodka and sodas, two Strongbow ciders, two shots of whiskey, four 12-ounce Lone-tree  ciders, a double vodka and soda, a shot of Jameson whiskey, three double vodka and sodas, three shots of whiskey and one other shot not identified. Between 2:20 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. he downed three rounds at the Roxy Cabaret, each a double vodka and soda and a whiskey shot, all ordered at three different bars n the establishment, capped with a final "further unidentified shot".

When he finally called it a night, he began to walk home, and in an obviously compromised condition, soon fell backwards. As he fell his head hit the sidewalk. In the claim he filed with the B.C. Supreme Court, there is a statement that he was left with a "severe brain injury". On the basis of this rather straightforward narrative of gross over-consumption of alcohol, it just might be assumed that his brain injury preceded his fall and the night's overindulgence.

What he wants and feels he is entitled to, is to be awarded damages for health-care-related costs and loss of earning capability. He points out that his parents gave him the support he required to recuperate from his ordeal. The allegations in his lawsuit have not been proven -- with both The Roxy and Studio denying his version of events. Johnson was a regular patron at the Roxy, so they knew him well; his character, or lack of such.

 

Johnson had about 19 ounces of hard liquor, six servings of cider and one “unidentified” shot. Photo by Getty Images

 

 

According to their account, he was not over-served, and nor was he visibly intoxicated when he left. "If the plaintiff was intoxicated at the time he departed The Roxy, which is expressly denied, the plaintiff left The Roxy in the care and company of persons who were, or alternatively who reasonably appeared to be, sober", read the response to the lawsuit.

 

Not only is this bartender fortunate that he didn't die on the spot from alcohol poisoning, he has guaranteed that he will never again be hired by any respectable bar or lounge in the city. His legal claim for compensation will never succeed. As a bartender himself he knows the rules, and as a mature adult he should be aware that the responsibility not to overindulge to the point of non-function is ultimately his. Too bad, so sad. His suffering parents stuck with a wastrel son to support.

Bartenders are generally reluctant to serve already-intoxicated customers. Photo by Getty Images