{"id":352981,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:31","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/social-host-liability.html"},"modified":"2024-05-08T16:29:51","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T21:29:51","slug":"social-host-liability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/social-host-liability.html","title":{"rendered":"Serving Alcohol and Social Host Liability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Serving Alcohol and Social Host Liability<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Lark Lewis, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Social host liability holds homeowners responsible for serving alcohol to guests who then cause harm to others. The person who is harmed can sue you \u2014 even if you didn’t directly hurt them.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Throwing a party can be a lot of fun. Serving alcohol can lighten the mood and encourage guests to socialize. But it’s important to understand social host liability laws as a party host.<\/p>\n

This article discusses what social host liability is, as well as the consequences of liability. It also addresses insurance claims as a social host and how to protect yourself from liability.<\/p>\n

If your guest causes a serious injury or accident, you may want to seek legal protection from a personal injury defense attorney<\/a>. Alternatively, an injured person can consult with a lawyer who represents plaintiffs<\/a> to discuss their legal options.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What Is Social Host Liability?<\/h2>\n

Social host liability is a legal concept that holds you accountable as a homeowner if you serve alcohol to a guest who then causes harm to others. The harm can include things like car crashes<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0property damage<\/a>. A common scenario is when a party host serves too much alcohol to a guest, and the guest causes a fatal DUI accident<\/a> on their way home. As a homeowner, you can be responsible for serving alcohol to adults and for enabling underage drinking.<\/p>\n

Social host liability laws vary from state to state. For example, in Massachusetts, laws are strict. If a party host in Massachusetts serves alcohol to an intoxicated guest or an underage guest, they can face severe consequences.<\/p>\n

Civil Liability<\/h3>\n

The host can get sued for damages by the victim(s) of the intoxicated guest. This can include compensation for:<\/p>\n