The Ranch Roadhouse: Lawful Or Not?

The Ranch Roadhouse, a bar in Edmonton, Canada, faced public scrutiny and protests following the death of 20-year-old Mohamed Mo Abdi, who was asked to leave the establishment in freezing weather without a jacket. Abdi's body was found two days later, and while police deemed his death non-criminal, the incident sparked questions about the bar's policies and staff conduct. An online petition calling for the bar's closure gained significant support, and the bar eventually announced its permanent closure in June 2019. The controversy surrounding The Ranch Roadhouse raises important discussions about the responsibilities and potential legal implications of establishments serving alcohol.

The ejection of Mohamed Abdi from The Ranch Roadhouse

On 16 November 2018, 20-year-old Mohamed (Mo) Abdi was out with friends at The Ranch Roadhouse bar in south Edmonton. Bouncers at the bar deemed him too intoxicated and ejected him from the premises. As Abdi was not wearing a jacket, his friends ensured he left with a capable friend.

Two days later, on Sunday afternoon, Abdi's body was found next door to the bar, under a truck at a nearby car dealership. It had been -16°C the night he left the bar, and Abdi's family believes he froze to death.

Following Abdi's death, the Edmonton Police Service investigated but deemed his death non-criminal. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission also launched an investigation. No sanctions were issued. The bar management also apologised and said it was conducting its own investigation, adding:

> The safety and security of our patrons and employees is our most important responsibility. Our employees took many steps to ensure Mo's safety, including ensuring he left our establishment in the hands of a capable friend… We are actively reviewing if there is more we could have done.

Public protests and an online petition calling for the closure of the bar followed Abdi's death. The bar closed down in June 2019, six months after Abdi's death. While the bar's parent company did not provide a reason for the closure, the bar's uncle, Abdul Abdulkadir, said he felt like "justice was served". Abdulkadir also said that the family still intends to sue the establishment.

The death of Mohamed Abdi

On a freezing Friday night in November 2018, 20-year-old Mohamed "Mo" Abdi was kicked out of The Ranch Roadhouse bar in south Edmonton, Canada, by bouncers who deemed him too intoxicated. He was not wearing a jacket, and he only had $10 in his wallet, not enough for a cab fare. Two days later, his body was found under a truck at a nearby car dealership. His family believes he froze to death.

Abdi arrived in Canada from the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya when he was six years old. He was an athlete and a role model to his cousins, and he dreamed of serving in the Canadian military. He was described by friends as "the funniest, genuine, kindest soul you could ever ask for."

Following Abdi's death, his family and friends demanded that The Ranch Roadhouse be shut down. They argued that the bar was responsible for his death, as it had thrown out an intoxicated customer in freezing temperatures. Over 25,000 people signed a petition calling for the bar to seek training, hire new staff, or shut down. Protesters also gathered outside the bar, calling for justice for Abdi.

The Ranch Roadhouse issued a statement apologizing for the incident and saying that staff had taken steps to ensure Abdi's safety, including ensuring he left with a friend. The bar also launched an internal investigation. However, critics pointed out that this was the second death linked to the bar, as 18-year-old Tyler Emes had also died of hypothermia after leaving the same bar the previous year.

The Edmonton Police Service ruled Abdi's death as non-criminal and did not pursue an investigation. However, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis agency launched an investigation into the incident.

In June 2019, The Ranch Roadhouse announced that it would be permanently closing its doors, though it did not explicitly link this decision to Abdi's death. The bar's final night of business was on Saturday, June 8, 2019.

Despite the closure, friends and family of Abdi continued to seek justice, arguing that the bar's renaming and renovation as "Midway" under the same ownership were an attempt to erase its dark history. They maintained their calls for a boycott of the establishment, stating that no justice had been served for Abdi's death.

The role of The Ranch Roadhouse in Mohamed Abdi's death

The Ranch Roadhouse, a popular bar in south Edmonton, played a role in the death of 20-year-old Mohamed "Mo" Abdi. On November 16, 2018, Mohamed was at The Ranch Roadhouse with his friends when he was asked to leave the premises because the bouncers believed he was too intoxicated. Notably, Mohamed was not wearing a jacket, and it was freezing weather, with temperatures reaching as low as -16°C.

Two days later, on Sunday afternoon, Mohamed's body was discovered next door to the bar, under a truck at a nearby car dealership. His family believes he froze to death.

Following Mohamed's death, the Edmonton Police Service deemed his death non-criminal. However, the case sparked public outrage and protests, with many calling for the bar to be shut down. An online petition demanding the closure of The Ranch Roadhouse garnered over 28,000 signatures. Additionally, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission launched an investigation into the incident.

In response to the tragedy, the bar issued a statement expressing their condolences and stating that they were actively reviewing if there was more they could have done to ensure Mohamed's safety. Despite their efforts, the bar faced significant backlash, and eventually, in June 2019, The Ranch Roadhouse announced its permanent closure, marking the end of its 13-year run.

The public protests and boycott against The Ranch Roadhouse

Abdi's family played a significant role in the protests and called for the bar to be shut down. Abdi's uncle, Abdul Abdulkadir, expressed his relief at the news of the bar's closure, stating that he felt like justice was served and that the closure was a result of public pressure. An online petition calling for the bar's closure gained over 28,000 signatures, and the family also planned to sue the establishment.

The protests and boycott against The Ranch Roadhouse extended beyond Abdi's death. There were reports of previous incidents at the bar, including another death due to negligent ejection and allegations of sexual assault. The bar was also accused of allowing minors inside and having sexist and predatory bouncers. The public's anger was fuelled by the fact that no sanctions were issued by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) following their investigation.

The impact of the protests and boycott ultimately led to the permanent closure of The Ranch Roadhouse in June 2019. The bar's parent company, Two12 Social Co, issued a statement announcing the closure without providing a specific reason. The public's efforts sent a strong message and held the establishment accountable for its actions.

The investigation and sanctions by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) launched an investigation into the Ranch Roadhouse following the death of 20-year-old Mohamed (Mo) Abdi. Abdi was kicked out of the bar by bouncers on November 16, 2018, because they thought he was too intoxicated. His body was found two days later, on a freezing cold night, under a truck in a nearby car dealership car park.

The Edmonton Police Service deemed Abdi's death non-criminal, but the AGLC still launched an inquiry. The Ranch Roadhouse said it was co-operating with the investigation and that it was also conducting its own internal investigation "in an effort to learn from this tragedy."

The AGLC's investigation into the Ranch Roadhouse was the second of its kind in as many years. In 2017, the AGLC probed the death of 18-year-old Tyler Emes, who died of hypothermia after leaving the same bar following a night of drinking. No sanctions were issued against the bar following either death.

The Ranch Roadhouse closed down in June 2019, six months after Abdi's death. The bar's parent company, Two12 Social Co, gave no reason for the closure but said it had a wonderful 13-year run and thanked customers and staff for their support.

Frequently asked questions