Lab tests reveal no controlled substances in liquor bottles after reports of illness at Houston-area bar

HOUSTON - A Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission investigation found no evidence of controlled substances in whiskey served at a Cypress bar where multiple patrons reportedly fell ill, according to results from a laboratory analysis.

TABC was notified on Oct. 7 that two patrons of Bedrock Tavern were reportedly hospitalized after consuming shots of Jameson whiskey at the bar on Oct. 5. The bar owner stated to TABC that onsite tests of two of the bottles allegedly revealed controlled substances in the liquor. TABC seized all nine of the bar's Jameson bottles and submitted samples of the product from each bottle for testing at a private Arlington-based laboratory.

None of the samples tested positive for any controlled substances, TABC Chief of Enforcement Ronald Swenson said.

"The lab tests did not reveal any substances that would have made the liquor inside the bottles unsafe for human consumption," Swenson said. "Since this incident was reported, TABC hasn't received any other reports of patrons falling ill after consuming Jameson, either in Texas or across the U.S."

A TABC investigation to determine how the patrons fell ill remains ongoing, Swenson added.

"We take incidents like this very seriously," he said. "These types of incidents tend to be rare, fortunately, but we're always going to do everything we can to find out what happened and what steps need to be taken to ensure this isn't repeated."

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact TABC at 512-206-3333. The agency will release more information as it becomes available.

Media Contact:

Chris Porter

TABC Director of Communications

[email protected]