Arizona State Liquor Department alleges that the Cadillac Ranch Bar violated rules when it served alcohol to Jack Culolias, a 19-year-old freshman from Arizona State University whose body was found two weeks later near Salt River, Phoenix.
The department's findings said that the restaurant did not check Culolias' fake ID, as it wasn't recorded in its log sheet. As a result, the bar failed to provide any verification proof.
Culolias, was attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity-sponsored pledge event at the bar, Nov.30, along with dozens of university underclassman. After a while, he was kicked out of the bar by a bouncer for urinating on a patio. Later his body was found with a yellow wristband, two weeks later.
"Our investigation found that Mr. Culolias did purchase alcohol at Cadillac Ranch with his credit card," liquor department Sgt. Wes Kuhl, told CBS5AZ.
Video tapes show Culolias ordering for a beer at 9.50 p.m. and paying the bartender at 10.02 p.m. After a while, he ordered for another beer.
Through interviews and bar receipts, investigators also found out that a 20-year-old bought 33 drinks there. But they are not sure, whether, it was Culolias or not. Plus, there was another underage person at the event that was served liquor.
The department filed administrative charges against the restaurant, December, under its Title IV statutes for underage drinking and serving alcohol to minors.
Arizona Liquor laws stipulate the legal drinking age to be 21 and a person below 21 is not allowed inside a bar.
Currently, the case has been transferred to the state compliance unit, which will determine the outcome. The judgment will be announced in the next month or two.
As a penalty, the bar could be fined or even lose its liquor license.
Culolias' identical twin brother, Alex Culolias, told the channel that it was his brother's choice to go attend the event over there, but he feels that the managers shouldn't have allowed him in.
This incident has forced the management to take up certain preventive actions such as installation of a new camera at the front door and an iPod to electronically record every scanned ID.
