Officials Investigating If Missing Student Riley Strain Was Overserved at Luke Bryan's Bar in Nashville
“We are investigating whether Mr. Strain was served alcohol while he was visibly intoxicated," said a representative of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Christopher Whiteid
Riley StrainRiley Strain, 22, a University of Missouri student, was last seen on March 8 after he was reportedly kicked out of Luke Bryan's bar
"State law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated," said the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department previously told PEOPLE that the search for Strain is continuing
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) said that it is looking into whether a visiting college student from Missouri was overserved at country music star Luke Bryan’s bar in Nashville prior to his disappearance a week ago.
Riley Strain, 22, a University of Missouri student, was last seen by friends on the evening of March 8 after he was reportedly kicked out of Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink, per the St. Louis Post Dispatch, FOX affiliate WZTV and NBC affiliate WSMV-TV.
TABC communication director Aaron Rummage shared a statement with PEOPLE Friday: “There are no specific rules or statutes that governs escorting out intoxicated patrons from their businesses or providing assistance in getting someone home. However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated. A violation is a class A misdemeanor. The TABC has opened an investigation into this matter to see if any violations have occurred.”
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Rummage earlier told NBC News about the case: “We are investigating whether Mr. Strain was served alcohol while he was visibly intoxicated.”
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Christopher Whiteid, Strain’s stepfather, said that his stepson was traveling with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers to Nashville as part of their annual formal.
Christopher Whiteid
Riley StrainAccording to Whiteid, Strain Facetimed his mother sometime before 8:00 p.m. from a different bar accompanied by his friends.
The following morning, Strain’s mother received a call from the fraternity brothers, prompting the missing student’s family members to speak with police and go search for him in Nashville.
"It’s killing us," Whiteid told PEOPLE. "Because we don’t know what’s going on. We can’t find him."
Of the whereabouts of Strain’s friends the night when Strain left the restaurant, Whiteid said that, per the fraternity members, "the bouncers wouldn’t let them out with him, that they were trying to get their bill paid."
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department earlier told PEOPLE that the search for Strain is continuing and detectives are "working around the clock with different leads."
PEOPLE reached out to TC Restaurant Group, which oversees Luke’s Bridge 32, for comment Friday.
Earlier this week, Bryan posted on his Instagram Stories: "TC Restaurant Group, operator, and owner of Luke's 32 Bridge is continuing to work closely with the Metro Nashville Police Department to provide security camera footage and any other potentially helpful information to aid in the search for Riley Strain. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones for his safe return."
Bryan also captioned the message: "Y'ALL THIS IS SCARY. PRAYING FOR HIS SAFE RETURN."
This past Tuesday, Nashville police released a surveillance video of Strain stumbling as he was crossing the street.
“Detectives today continue to pursue tips & investigative leads concerning missing person Riley Strain, 22,” the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department captioned the footage posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“Strain, wearing a 2-tone shirt, is seen in this video crossing 1st Ave N to Gay St (right to left), at 9:47 p.m. Fri. Have info about him? Plz 📞 615-742-7463.”
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