Alcohol Server Liability
Drunk driving is a crime with multiple victims – and in some cases, more than one person plays a role in the reckless actions that kill someone every 30 minutes in the United States. The driver is responsible for making the conscious decision to drink, knowing that he or she will later take the wheel. But when the driver drinks at a bar or stops at a liquor store after already consuming several alcoholic beverages, the establishment that sells or serves the alcohol may also be at fault.
The Alabama legal code includes provisions that regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol – including specific language that holds businesses liable for serving or selling alcohol in an irresponsible manner. These are known as “Dram Shop Laws” and they extend to bars, restaurants or private events in which alcohol is sold or served to individuals who drive while intoxicated and cause harm to themselves or others. The Alabama dram shop lawyers of Belt Law Firm have represented many victims and families impacted by drunk driving and we understand the damage caused by reckless alcohol sales. For help with your case, contact us via email or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514.
Dram Shop laws hold establishments responsible when they sell or serve alcohol to someone who causes a drunk driving accident under the following circumstances:
- The person is of legal drinking age, but is already visibly intoxicated when purchasing the alcohol.
- The person is under 21 – whether or not he or she is visibly drunk.
The latter point is important because a minor doesn’t have to be “drunk” in order for their liquor consumption to be considered a crime; people under 21 cannot legally drink in Alabama, so selling a bottle of whiskey or serving a beer to a teenager makes that business legally responsible if the teenager becomes involved in a drunk driving accident.
Dram shop laws don’t only pertain to the corner bar; they cover a variety of establishments including:
- Grocery or convenient stores that sell alcohol
- Social clubs
- Corporate business events
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Liquor stores
Dram shop laws exist because any establishment that sells or serves alcohol has a responsibility to the general public not to serve someone who is already drunk and is likely to cause a serious accident. If you are injured by a driver who was served in a bar when he or she was already drunk, you have the right to file a claim against the bar. If your teenager buys beer in a grocery store and then becomes injured after crashing a car, you have the right to bring legal action against the store.
The bottom line is that every business owner involved in the sale of alcohol understands full well the dangers of serving liquor to someone who is already drunk or under age. The Alabama dram shop lawyers of Belt Law Firm believe that when establishments put profit ahead of public safety, they must be held accountable.
If you have been seriously hurt or lost a loved one from a drunk driving accident, call the Belt Law Firm to work with an experienced and dedicated attorney who cares about your case. Contact us via email or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514 for your Free Consultation.
