Bar retains license despite fatal drug incident criticism

A council meeting was informed that staff inaction deprived a man of “the chance to survive” after he collapsed from drug use at a city centre establishment. The 41-year-old man passed away in hospital on 1 September, having consumed cocaine at La Finca Eivissa bar and restaurant in Liverpool. Liverpool City Council heard testimony detailing how door staff positioned the man behind a parked car at the Ibiza-themed venue on Colquitt Street following his collapse. Merseyside Police characterized the staff’s failure to summon an ambulance or provide first aid as a “serious neglect.” A licensing and gambling sub-committee hearing reviewed the incident before determining whether the establishment would retain its licence, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Sgt Craig Carmichael commented that it was an evening that “changed the life of family and friends” permanently. He stated that while it was “unlikely” the man would have survived the night regardless, failures still occurred. Sgt Carmichael recounted that the man had entered the bar with a female companion and, shortly before 00:30 BST, purchased two bags of cocaine from another individual. CCTV footage depicted him using the substance around 02:10 BST, subsequently collapsing behind a table inside the bar. His female friend reportedly began seeking assistance, believing he had been struck by a man in a white t-shirt, which led to a disturbance. Sgt Carmichael stated that three minutes later, door staff lifted the man and transported him from the bar area to “dump him on the ground behind a parked car some distance away from the venue.” The officer noted that the staff then “carried on with their jobs” as usual, making no checks on the man’s condition as he lay flat on his back, having likely suffered cardiac arrest. Sgt Carmichael indicated that management, including a 25-year-old assistant general manager who was managing a queue outside, should have “taken control” and administered first aid. Committee chairwoman Christine Banks addressed the meeting, stating: “The buck stops with the assistant general manager. He has to take responsibility. He should have done his job and he didn’t.” Ms Banks remarked that the hearing had been convened under “very tragic circumstances” and asserted there was “no excuse” for the man being left outside. She further added that there was also no justification for staff failing to contact emergency services. Nevertheless, the business was permitted to maintain its premises licence. The panel acknowledged the argument that door staff were incompetent and had acted in a manner that undermined the licensing objectives, but ultimately assigned responsibility to the designated premises supervisor. Director Stephen Thompson expressed that he was “incensed and disgusted” by the events. All three security guards had their licences revoked, and Mr Thompson confirmed he had terminated the contract with the company that supplied the staff, citing previous issues with individuals and claiming they had sent “new and inexperienced” workers who spoke “little or no English.” The director also conveyed his belief that the staff provided by the security firm had allowed a different type of clientele into the venue, referring to them as the “wrong crowd.” Addressing Mr Thompson directly, chairwoman Ms Banks commented: “You’re very lucky” and stated the panel was “not happy with what we’ve seen.” She concluded: “This should never happen again.” Mr Thompson conceded that staff “could and should have done more” and acknowledged that the incident had been handled “atrociously.”