Restaurants serving alcohol must consider dram shop laws

Customers come into your restaurant to relax and enjoy themselves, and alcohol enhances the overall experience for some. But serving alcohol brings with it the heavy responsibility of understanding and following the rules governing the sale of liquor in your state. One of those laws is the dram shop law. Dram shop laws are state statutes that allow for the recovery of damages from establishments responsible for serving an intoxicated person who then harms a third party, property or themselves. The laws vary widely by state, and while they may seem straightforward, they’re continually being challenged in the courts and can easily become entangled with other state-specific regulations, licensing and common law.

This loss-prevention article can help restaurant and hospitality businesses understand important considerations pertaining to dram shop laws and regulations.