Ruben”s Fish House has been notified its alcoholic beverage sales permit is being revoked.
Mississippi Tax Commission spokesperson Katy Waterbury confirmed this morning official notice of intent to revoke the permit has been sent to Ruben”s. An investigation into the May 31 death of John Caldwell, who died of acute alcohol poisoning at the restaurant on Moore”s Creek Road, revealed Ruben”s employees were in violation of selling alcohol to a customer who was visibly intoxicated, having a manager on the premises who was intoxicated and allowing the customer to have control of a liquor bottle. In Mississippi, restaurants and bars can only sell liquor by the glass.
Waterbury said any of the three violations are sufficient cause to revoke a liquor permit.
Ruben”s owner Danny Blakeney, who was not available for comment this morning, has until Aug. 2 to appeal to the State Board of Tax Appeals or surrender the permit. The permit is valid until Aug. 2.
Employees Joey Cox and Dylan Hicks turned themselves in to Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement personnel in June to face charges of selling/furnishing alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person. The maximum penalty for each, if convicted, would be a fine of $500 and six months in jail.
Caldwell, 46, of Columbus died after participating in a drinking game with Cox, who was off duty, in the Loft, Ruben”s upstairs bar.
Over the course of about an hour, the two men tried to out-drink each other before employees took them downstairs away from the bar to sleep it off. Cox regained consciousness and left, and Caldwell”s body was found later in the night.
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