Thousands Sign Petition For “Riley Act”

Activists Rally to Enact New Law for Responsible Bartending

In a groundswell of public sentiment, thousands of individuals have raised their voice putting signatures to a petition endorsing the proposed “Riley Act”. The Act is named in honor of Riley Strain who tragically lost his life after being expelled from a local bar in the prime center of Nashville, while visibly intoxicated and disoriented.

The Riley Act

The Riley Act envisages bars and clubs taking greater responsibility for their patrons, especially under the influence of excessive drinking. The proposed law would necessitate bar staff to summon cabs or rideshares for patrons who are overly intoxicated and incapable of making it home safely. The petition backing the Riley Act has so far garnered over 30,000 signatures, closing in on its targeted goal of 35,000 signatures.

Voices in Chorus for the Riley Act

Demonstrating increased support for the Riley Act, almost a dozen individuals have posted videos alongside the petition. These supporters voice their belief that Riley’s untimely death could have been averted had he been provided safe transport back to his place of stay after being shown the door at the city’s famous Luke Bryan’s bar.

Concerns & Questions

While there is broad support for the concept behind the Riley Act, there are practical considerations that need to be ironed out. Critical questions like deciding the threshold for intoxication, dealing with customers who refuse the arrangement, and the question of who will bear the cost for these rides are some of the issues that may complicate the potential enforcement of this law.

A Cry For Safety

The petitioner, Deborah Borza, has called on the responsibility of business owners, not just for ensuring safety within their establishments, but also for facilitating their customers to leave safely. Through the petition, she states, “ We were all young once and made choices such as over-drinking or simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time”.

We are awaiting a response from Ms. Borza for further clarity on how she envisions the practical workings of the law to safeguard others from meeting a fate similar to that of Riley. As the campaign for the Riley Act gathers momentum, Nashville and policymakers are closely observing the development that could potentially alter the responsibility dynamics between drinking establishments and their patrons for good.