ok, im a bartender when im in university, and this law kills me. if we overserve someone and they go out and get in their car and kill someone, my bar and/or I can be held legally liable. last time i checked people go to a bar to get drunk, otherwise they'd stay at home and paint their mini action figures like the dude from 40yr old virgin all night.

whats it like in you guys/girls areas?

Tanner

 

We have one like that. Few years ago some retard got hammered and fell in the river (or someting like that) and died. Now, there is a min price for drinks, no more cheap specials, and you are only supposed to serve people 1 drink at a time (not really followed though ) And, ya the business can be held responsible.

 

The law is the same here in Ohio. It goes back to Old England and Common Law. A person who owns a house (or a restaurant/pub/bar) is responsible for the health and safety of his/her guests---even after they get into a car and leave. (This dates back almost 1000 years.)

Mu understanding is this: If you knowlingly allow somebody whom you have observed to be intoxicated---and you contributed to that intoxication, you are obligated to take reasonable precautions and attempts to keep them safe and off the road.

The same is true here in Ohio for a homeowner, as well. If the guest becomes innebriated at one's home, the homeowner must also make reasonable and prudent attempts to keep that person from driving and to ensure his safety.

And no, most adults probably don't go to the bar to get ****faced---college kids do---but that doesn't remove the obligation under the law. The risks today with facing DUI's areust too great.

Tim C.

 

I just moved from a dry county. There were no "bars" as such...

I think its BS... If you get drunk and kill someone there is NO ONE else to blame. If you can't handle yourself, don't drink!

 

Yeah, that sounds good, but when do you know that you have had too much? Alcohol also cause one's thinking processes to fog over as well, so by the time you realize that you have had too much, it may be too late.

It may sound lame, but it is the law---and it doesn't just deal with alcohol or chemicals, either.

 

Here there was talk of expanding it to house parties, it didnt pass into law. I agree people should have to answer for their own actions, not blame the bartender or the owner. That retard who died after he left the bar made the choice to drink that much. Of course it was the usuall "He was a great guy, blah blah blah" and maybe he was, who knows. But, then his family started blaming everyone else, the people he was with, the staff and the owners. Come on, no one forced that booze down his throat.

 

Very true---but all the bartender or owner has to do is turn off the faucet---"Hey buddy, you have had enough..."

Talk to any respectable lawyer (if there are any!) andthey will tell you that the law goes back a 1000 years---Common Law---but common sense is all it takes. That is why insurance premiums for bars/ restaurants, sports bars are so high; It is up to the person running the establishment to have the common sense to say know and to call a cab or to at least to try to take the keys away.

 

It's similar here in Houston, TX too. Anyone who serves liquor must have a certification. During the certification you are taught not to serve patron who are intoxicated or even a certain number of drinks. Yes the bars and restaurants can be help liable for serving too much.

 

Same here in AL. To bad people don't take the responsibility of looking after themselves, and need to blame other people for their mistakes.

 

Common law has nothing to do with common sense. Under Canadian (English) common law if some a**hole breaks into my house and falls he can sue me.

Off topic I know, but the idea that someone else is legally responsible for another adults action is just stupid. Adults by law are allowed to make their own decisions, so they should be the only ones held responsible for their actions.