Lang
11/3/22
An Iowa City bartender faces charges that he continued serving alcohol to a dangerously intoxicated customer.
First responders were called to Joe’s Place on Iowa Avenue just after 1:30 Halloween morning for an intoxicated customer who had fallen and was not very responsive. An Iowa City Police investigation determined that the bartender, identified as 29-year-old Travis Patten of Orchard Court, had been serving the customer for several hours with few other bar patrons present. Patten reportedly served the subject multiple tequila shots despite his already-high intoxication level. The customer eventually passed out and hit their head on the bar, requiring transport to a local hospital.
The patron’s breath alcohol level was measured at .349%. A chart compiled by the University of Toledo indicates the effects of a blood alcohol level above .30 include “level of surgical amnesia, onset of coma, (and) possibility of acute alcohol poisoning”. Death due to respiratory arrest is listed as “likely” in 50% of drinkers. In 2004 a University of Colorado student died of alcohol poisoning with a BAC of .328%….021% lower than the patron from Joe’s Place.
Patten is charged with Supplying Alcohol to an Intoxicated Person. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail.