Dram shop statutes impose liability on licensed alcohol servers for injuries caused by patrons served in violation of the statute, typically service to a visibly intoxicated person or to a minor.
Social host liability is a related and generally narrower doctrine addressing non-commercial hosts.
Alternative Names:
Dram Shop Act, Liquor Liability
Why it Matters?
These claims typically follow a serious auto collision and reach an insured commercial defendant when the driver's coverage is inadequate. The evidence is receipts, point-of-sale data, server testimony, and surveillance showing the patron's condition, and the visible intoxication element is where cases are contested since blood alcohol level alone does not establish observable impairment. Statutory caps and short notice periods apply in several states.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What must be proven under a dram shop statute?
Does a high blood alcohol level establish visible intoxication?
