Province investigating death of young man ejected from Edmonton bar
The province is investigating the death of a young man who was told to leave an Edmonton bar last weekend in freezing weather.
Mohamed Abdi, 20, was found dead Sunday, two days after he was kicked out of The Ranch Roadhouse.
Police have deemed his death non-suspicious and Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has confirmed it is investigating.
"Right now there is an investigation underway to identify whether there were any infractions of the gaming liquor and cannabis act or the associated regulations or policies," said Heather Holmen, AGLC spokesperson.
On Tuesday, tearful family members gathered to grieve together in the north-Edmonton home of Abdi's uncle. They described Abdi as a kind person and loyal friend who excelled at sports and served as a role model for his seven younger siblings.
"Nobody should have died like that way," said his uncle, Abdifatah Abdulkadir. "We have a lot of questions. Why did they kick him out when the the weather was minus 16 on Friday. It was so cold. He was almost unconscious. So why would they do that?"
Family and friends said Abdi was told to leave the bar because he'd had too much to drink.
By 5 p.m. Tuesday, a petition calling on the bar to be shut down had swelled to more than 20,000 signatures.
The petition described Abdi as a "close friend of many young people in the Edmonton area" and cited him as "an amazing influence on many and touched so many lives."
This is not the first such death connected to The Ranch Roadhouse. Last year an 18-year-old university student was found dead after leaving the roadhouse. The AGLC investigated that case but found no infractions.
In a statement Tuesday, Jesse Kupina, principal partner for Two12 Social Co., said employees "took many steps to ensure Mo's safety" before he left the establishment with a friend.
He said the company is conducting its own investigation "in an effort to learn from this tragedy."
Kupina offered condolences to Abdi's family and friends on behalf of employees and owners of The Ranch.
"I am sorry," Kupina wrote. "We are actively reviewing if there is more we could have done.
"We want to make sure this never happens again."
'The law is very clear'
Licensed establishments in Canada are aware of their duty to ensure that patrons aren't over-served, and their legal responsibility to ensure that individuals who have become intoxicated on their property don't cause harm after they leave, a legal expert told CBC's Radio Active on Tuesday.
"Commercial hosts, as you know, have an incentive to make money. They have an incentive to serve you as much alcohol as possible," said Ubaka Ogbogu, a University of Alberta professor who specializes in health law.
"So we have very strict laws that say they have to make sure their staff watch out for people who are intoxicated. And to stop serving."
The law doesn't make exceptions for large facilities with huge crowds, or for cases where people have been drinking elsewhere.
"The bars have a legal responsibility not to over-serve patrons. And if you do get them intoxicated, the law is very clear. You have to get them home safely. You have to take all reasonable steps," he said.
Ogbogu said The Ranch's effort to ensure Abdi was in the care of a friend when he left was an appropriate decision but staff could have gone the extra step and sent him home in a cab.
"If I'm someone who is advising the bar, I would say that the best step is to make sure they get home safely."
andrea.huncar@cbc.ca
@andreahuncar
