Thousands sign petition for bars to help intoxicated patrons get home safely after Riley Strain’s death
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Over 27,000 people have signed a petition that is asking bar staff to help intoxicated patrons get a safe ride home.
This comes after 22-year-old University of Missouri student Riley Strain was kicked out of Luke Bryan’s bar back in March. His body was found two weeks later in the Cumberland River. According to Strain’s autopsy report, there was no sign of foul play.
“When I heard the circumstances, it was very disturbing to me not only as an advocate but as a parent,” said Deborah Borza, creator of the ‘Riley’s Act’ petition.
Riley Strain’s family: ‘Somebody helped him in the water’
On March 8, Strain, who was visiting Nashville on a fraternity trip, was kicked out of Luke Bryan’s bar. Strain was seen in multiple surveillance video clips before he disappeared.
After an extensive two-week search, his body was found in the Cumberland River on March 22.
“How could this have been prevented? What could have happened?” Borza said.
Borza set out to help answer that question. Thousands of signatures later, she created the ‘Riley’s Act’ petition. Her proposed law would make it mandatory for bar staff to call cabs and Ubers for intoxicated individuals.
“Someone leaves the bar, they are in the city, they are not from here, they are visiting…their phone is dead they are not with their friends, what do they do? That is the question I am trying to answer,” said Metro Councilmember Jacob Kupin.
New questions after death of Riley Strain
Kupin has had conversations with bar owners and Metro police on downtown safety since Strain’s death.
“And what has come out of that conversation is potentially a state for a third entity to show up because the bars have said we would love to make sure the people that show up get home safe,” Kupin said.
Currently, Kupin is working on a piece of legislation that looks at safety and security along the riverbank, specifically, in the area where Strain disappeared.
“As parents and advocates we can do better to help kids, do better to help the communities,” Borza said.
Broza told News 2 that she would like to get 100,000 signatures and will be sending the petition to state lawmakers early next week.
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In a statement from last month, TC Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Luke’s 32 Bridge, said records show Strain purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters before he was kicked out of the bar.
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