Manager furnished alcohol to underage employee resulting in her death

RIVERSIDE – On October 2, 2025, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) suspended the license of El Patron Downtown Riverside restaurant prohibiting alcohol sales for 45 days. The disciplinary action comes after ABC found a manager knowingly furnished alcohol to an underage employee resulting in her death on December 10, 2024.

ABC opened a TRACE (Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies) investigation immediately after the fatal incident to determine the source of the alcohol the underage person consumed.

Video surveillance showed the on-site manager furnished the 19-year-old hostess with numerous alcoholic beverages on the night of her death, to the point she showed obvious signs of intoxication. The woman left the premises with another employee, who pulled over on the shoulder of the 91 freeway while the pair had a verbal argument. The 19-year-old exited the vehicle, ran into traffic, and was killed. An autopsy showed her blood alcohol level was 0.30%.

“Keeping alcohol out of the hands of underage people can help prevent tragedies like this,” said ABC Director Paul Tupy. “It’s paramount that licensees serve responsibly and follow the law when it comes to providing alcohol to minors.”

If similar violations continue to occur at the premises at any time during the next year, ABC has authority to revoke the license.

The TRACE program is made possible by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The grant provides funding for ABC investigations of alcohol-related incidents that involve a person under the age of 21 causing great bodily injury or death, or anyone charged with vehicular manslaughter that was under the influence of alcohol regardless of their age.

“We are appreciative of the investigative work conducted by ABC agents as part of the TRACE program,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “No only does this hold licensees accountable, it works to protect our young citizens, as well as all of us out on the roadways and in our communities.”