Route 19 Brewing found guilty of breaking one regulation after brewmaster’s death
Route 19 Brewing in Inverness, N.S., has been found guilty of violating one liquor licensing regulation following the tragic death of its brewmaster, Dallas Lewis. Lewis, 48, passed away in July 2023 after falling off the company’s roof. An autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal driving limit, indicating that he was heavily intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Although both the RCMP and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour conducted investigations and deemed it an accident with no laws broken, the province’s alcohol, gaming, fuel, and tobacco division launched its own investigation. They alleged three administrative violations of liquor licensing regulations against Route 19 Brewing: allowing an employee to be intoxicated on the job, overserving someone, and not having control of the premises.
After a hearing held by the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, it was determined that Route 19 Brewing failed to control the premises effectively. The board acknowledged that while Lewis was intoxicated, the staff and company believed he was not, and there was a blurred line between his work duties and personal time at the establishment.
A new hearing will be scheduled to determine the appropriate penalty for the violations. Route 19 Brewing has refrained from commenting on the matter until the review process is complete, emphasizing that the health and safety of their patrons, staff, and community are their top priorities.
During the initial hearing, security footage showed Lewis pouring beers, a task that went against company policy since he primarily worked in the back, producing and canning beer. Despite this, the company denied the charges, stating that staff did not observe any signs of intoxication in Lewis and that he had finished his work for the day.
The regulatory board found Route 19 Brewing guilty of failing to control the premises due to allowing Lewis to pour beers and conduct public tours while intoxicated. The board also determined that the company violated the regulation regarding intoxication on the premises.
The alcohol division proposed a 60-day suspension of the company’s liquor license as a penalty for the infractions. If upheld, this would be one of the most severe penalties imposed on a drinking establishment in Nova Scotia. The maximum penalty for breaching liquor licensing regulations is a 90-day closure, with most suspensions falling between two and 15 days.
In the midst of these legal proceedings, Lewis’s widow, Erinn, is pursuing a negligence lawsuit against Route 19 Brewing and co-owner Wayne Gillis. The company maintains that Lewis’s death was an accident and that they are not liable for the tragedy. The outcome of this lawsuit remains pending in the courts.
As the case unfolds, the Nova Scotia community awaits the final decision on the penalty for Route 19 Brewing’s liquor licensing violations. The safety and well-being of patrons and employees in alcohol-serving establishments continue to be a pressing concern for regulatory authorities.
