Customers

Have a Plan for Getting Home Safely
If you’re going out to a bar or party, ensure everyone in your group has a safe means of returning home. Select a designated driver, plot a bus route or arrange a ride. Cities have lists of phone numbers and links for local transportation including taxi companies and ridesharing services.

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays due to the number of drunk drivers on the road. If you are driving, remember you are responsible for the safety of everyone in the car.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

Never drink and drive. In legal terms, impaired driving is drunk driving. Local law enforcement in most areas will be conducting impaired driving patrols. Whether you’re driving or just crossing the street on foot, keep your awareness levels high.

Use the Buddy System
Plan ahead by taking a trusted friend who has your best interests in mind. Stay together! Look out for the safety of your friends and talk to them about doing the same for you.

Eat and Stay Hydrated
Make sure you eat well and stay hydrated throughout the day you are planning to go out. An effective tip is to eat food with protein and fat before and during drinking. It also helps to alternate a non-alcoholic beverage, such as water, with any alcoholic drinks you consume. Eating and drinking water also can decrease the likelihood you’ll have a hangover.

Leave Valuables at Home
Make sure you don’t leave valuables unattended. The best way to keep your possessions safe is to leave them secured at home. It reduces the chance they will be lost or taken from you. If a party is being hosted at your home, also be sure to lock up your valuables.

Stay by Your Drinks
Even if you are not drinking alcohol, it is easy for someone to put something in your drink unless you see it opened or prepared. Keep your drink with you at all times.

Bartenders and Alcohol Servers

An alcohol safety seller-server program prepares bartenders, servers, and all front-of-house staff to effectively and safely handle difficult situations in restaurants. Alcohol service involves many risks. Failure to act responsibly could result in fines, imprisonment, losing your liquor license, increased insurance costs, or losing your business. Restaurant employees could face criminal charges for serving alcohol to a minor or an intoxicated customer and can even be held liable if an intoxicated customer’s actions lead to a death, injury or property damage.

Restaurants need to be prepared to handle these risks with responsible alcohol training. Here are some tips to keep in mind when serving alcohol:

• Make sure staff is properly checking identifications to verify the customers are in fact 21 or older, not just at the door, but at the point of sale.
• Train staff to recognize impaired or intoxicated patrons.
• Offer free non-alcoholic beverages and food for designated drivers.
• Tell staff to watch for anyone attempting to tamper with drinks.
• Encourage staff to talk to patrons about their plan for a safe ride home.
• Familiarize staff with ride share and cab transportation for the evening.

Summary

Have fun celebrating St. Paddy’s Day. By following simple, useful alcohol safety tips, you can help make the celebration more fun and safe for everyone.

Introduction to Social Host Liability

Social host liability is a legal term and area of law that deals with the liability of a person who supplies liquor to a guest. Under social host liability laws, the host shares any liability incurred as a result of actions by an intoxicated guest to whom he or she has served liquor. This law is similar to dram shop liability which applies to bars, taverns, liquor stores and other businesses that serve alcohol.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Minors
Most states have these laws, which hold a host responsible for providing liquor to minors in any situation that results in injuries to the minor, or injuries that the minor causes to others due to alcohol intoxication.

Adults
Some states have stricter social host liability laws which go beyond underage drinking. These laws can hold you responsible for accidents caused by anyone allowed to drink to excess then injures themselves or a third party.

Liability
While a social host is not liable for injuries sustained by a drunken guest (as the guest is also negligent), the host can be held liable for harm to third parties, and even for passengers of the guest who have been injured in their car. There are circumstances under these laws where criminal charges may also apply.

Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Guests

Remember that a good host is a responsible host. If you plan to serve alcohol at a party, promote safe alcohol consumption and take these steps to reduce your social host liability exposure:

• Make sure you understand your state laws. These laws vary widely from state to state (see chart). Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.
• Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help minimize liquor liability risks.
• Limit your own alcohol intake as a responsible host/hostess, so that you will be better able to judge your guests’ sobriety.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening. Switch to coffee, tea and soft drinks.
• Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
• If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab or rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) or have them sleep at your home.

Which states have Social Host Liability laws?

Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

Note: This chart should be used for general informational purposes and is not intended as a legal reference. If you have questions regarding social host or dram shop liability, please contact an attorney in your state or your state attorney general’s office.

Additional Resources:

• Dram Shop Laws by State – National Conference of State Legislatures
• Dram Shop Laws | LegalMatch Law Library
• Dram Shop – Wikipedia

Alcohol beverage server training general topics include:

• Checking IDs to recognize minors;
• Service practices that reduce the likelihood of excessive consumption;
• Identifying and responding to early signs of excessive consumption (e.g., rapid consumption);
• Identifying intoxicated patrons and refusing service to them;
• Intervening to prevent intoxicated patrons from driving;
• Protecting an establishment and self from liability.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

State Alcohol Beverage Service Training and Related Practices

Whether mandatory or voluntary, alcohol beverage training programs vary by state in curricula components; procedures for administering the program; certificate requirements servers and managers; penalties for violations; and enforcement practices.

National Institute of Health (NIH) – Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS)
Beverage Service Training and Related Practices
Alcohol Beverage Service Training and Related Practices as of January 1, 2019

Data and Table Reference:

National Institute of Health (NIH) – Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS)
Beverage Service Training and Related Practices

https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/apis-policy-topics/beverage-service-training-and-related-practices/26/maps-and-charts#page-content

Introduction to Social Host Liability

Social host liability is a legal term and area of law that deals with the liability of a person who supplies liquor to a guest. Under social host liability laws, the host shares any liability incurred as a result of actions by an intoxicated guest to whom he or she has served liquor. This law is similar to dram shop liability which applies to bars, taverns, liquor stores and other businesses that serve alcohol.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Minors
Most states have these laws, which hold a host responsible for providing liquor to minors in any situation that results in injuries to the minor, or injuries that the minor causes to others due to alcohol intoxication.

Adults
Some states have stricter social host liability laws which go beyond underage drinking. These laws can hold you responsible for accidents caused by anyone allowed to drink to excess then injures themselves or a third party.

Liability
While a social host is not liable for injuries sustained by a drunken guest (as the guest is also negligent), the host can be held liable for harm to third parties, and even for passengers of the guest who have been injured in their car. There are circumstances under these laws where criminal charges may also apply.

Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Guests

Remember that a good host is a responsible host. If you plan to serve alcohol at a party, promote safe alcohol consumption and take these steps to reduce your social host liability exposure:

• Make sure you understand your state laws. These laws vary widely from state to state (see chart). Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.
• Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help minimize liquor liability risks.
• Limit your own alcohol intake as a responsible host/hostess, so that you will be better able to judge your guests’ sobriety.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening. Switch to coffee, tea and soft drinks.
• Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
• If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab or rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) or have them sleep at your home.

Which states have Social Host Liability laws?

Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

Note: This chart should be used for general informational purposes and is not intended as a legal reference. If you have questions regarding social host or dram shop liability, please contact an attorney in your state or your state attorney general’s office.

Additional Resources:

• Dram Shop Laws by State – National Conference of State Legislatures
• Dram Shop Laws | LegalMatch Law Library
• Dram Shop – Wikipedia

If you’re hosting a party at your home and planning to serve alcohol, be responsible, take steps to limit your liquor liability and make sure you have the proper insurance.

Likewise, if you’re attending an office holiday party, keep in mind that it’s still a work event and avoid drinking too much.

Introduction to Social Host Liability

Social host liability is a legal term and area of law that deals with the liability of a person who supplies liquor to a guest. Under social host liability laws, the host shares any liability incurred as a result of actions by an intoxicated guest to whom he or she has served liquor. This law is similar to dram shop liability which applies to bars, taverns, liquor stores and other businesses that serve alcohol.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Minors
Most states have these laws, which hold a host responsible for providing liquor to minors in any situation that results in injuries to the minor, or injuries that the minor causes to others due to alcohol intoxication.

Adults
Some states have stricter social host liability laws which go beyond underage drinking. These laws can hold you responsible for accidents caused by anyone allowed to drink to excess then injures themselves or a third party.

Liability
While a social host is not liable for injuries sustained by a drunken guest (as the guest is also negligent), the host can be held liable for harm to third parties, and even for passengers of the guest who have been injured in their car. There are circumstances under these laws where criminal charges may also apply.

Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Guests

Remember that a good host is a responsible host. If you plan to serve alcohol at a party, promote safe alcohol consumption and take these steps to reduce your social host liability exposure:

• Make sure you understand your state laws. These laws vary widely from state to state (see chart). Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.
• Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help minimize liquor liability risks.
• Limit your own alcohol intake as a responsible host/hostess, so that you will be better able to judge your guests’ sobriety.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening. Switch to coffee, tea and soft drinks.
• Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
• If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab or rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) or have them sleep at your home.

Which states have Social Host Liability laws?

Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

Note: This chart should be used for general informational purposes and is not intended as a legal reference. If you have questions regarding social host or dram shop liability, please contact an attorney in your state or your state attorney general’s office.

Additional Alcohol Liability Resources

• Dram Shop Laws by State – National Conference of State Legislatures
• Dram Shop Laws | LegalMatch Law Library
• Dram Shop – Wikipedia
• Business Insider – 17 tips for surviving your office holiday party

For others, the holidays can be a much darker and more difficult time – a time of family conflict, financial strain, loneliness, grief, and seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal affective disorder (also known as SAD and seasonal depression) affects 6 percent of Americans. Another 14 percent experience a lesser form of seasonal mood change known as the winter blues.

Furthermore, for people with depression and co-occurring alcohol addiction, the holiday season can be a time of increased vulnerability, anxiety, and susceptibility to relapse. Many people’s struggle with mental health and sobriety during this time stems from experiences of loneliness and isolation, which can contribute to both depression and alcohol addiction relapse.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

According to Drugabuse.com, the majority of Americans are either overwhelmingly or moderately stressed during the holidays. For someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, the holidays can be an especially trying time to maintain sobriety.

Alcohol Seller Server Responsibilities

Whatever the reasons for increased holiday drinking might be, it is an alcohol seller-server’s responsibility to:

• Practice service that reduces the likelihood of excessive consumption;
• Identify and respond to early signs of excessive consumption;
• Identify intoxicated patrons and refuse service to them;
• Prevent intoxicated patrons from driving.

Whether mandatory or voluntary, alcohol seller-server training has an impact on the effectiveness in reducing sales to minors and intoxicated persons.

Summary

Holidays can be stressful, difficult, and even dangerous, especially when it comes to alcohol use. For a safe and happy holiday, it’s important to be aware of the dangers, triggers, and strategies needed to keep anxiety, depression, stress, and addiction under control.

If it all gets to be too much, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Visit us at DrugAbuse.com to find support and resources.

Many bartenders are promoted from other jobs at the establishments in which they work. Bartenders at upscale establishments usually have attended bartending classes or have previous work experience.

Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years old. Bartenders must be familiar with state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages.

National Bartender Day occurs annually on the first Friday of December and recognizes the men and women working late nights serving alcohol to quench their patron’s thirst.

Use #NationalBartenderDay to share on social media.

Drink Recipe & Responsible Alcohol Service Training

Most bartenders receive on-the-job training, usually lasting a few weeks, under the guidance of an experienced bartender. Training focuses on cocktail recipes, bar-setup procedures, and customer service, including how to handle unruly customers and other challenging situations. In establishments where bartenders serve food, the training may cover teamwork and proper food-handling procedures.

Many states and localities require bartenders to complete a responsible-server course. The course is related to state and local alcohol laws, responsible serving practices, and conflict management. Courses may be available both in person and online. Depending on the state and locality, the server, owner, manager, or business may maintain a license to sell alcohol.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

What Bartenders do?

Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to customers or through wait staff.  Bartenders duties typically are the following:

• Greet customers, give them menus, and inform them about daily specials
• Take drink orders from customers
• Pour and serve wine, beer, and other drinks and beverages
• Mix drinks according to recipes
• Check the identification of customers to ensure that they are of legal drinking age
• Clean bars, tables, and work areas
• Collect payments from customers and return change
• Manage the operation of the bar, and order and maintain liquor and bar supplies
• Monitor the level of intoxication of customers

Bartenders fill drink orders either directly from customers at the bar or through waiters and waitresses who place drink orders for dining room customers. Bartenders must know a wide range of drink recipes and be able to mix drinks correctly and quickly. They also must work well with waiters and waitresses and other kitchen staff to ensure that customers receive prompt service.

Some establishments, especially busy establishments with many customers, use equipment that automatically measures and pours drinks at the push of a button. Bartenders who use this equipment, however, still must become familiar with the ingredients for special drink requests and be able to work quickly to handle numerous drink orders.

In addition to mixing and serving drinks, bartenders stock and prepare garnishes for drinks and maintain an adequate supply of ice, glasses, and other bar supplies. They also wash glassware and utensils and serve food to customers who eat at the bar. Bartenders are usually responsible for ordering and maintaining an inventory of liquor, mixers, and other bar supplies.

Bartender Job Outlook

Employment of bartenders is projected to grow 2 percent through 2026, slower than the average for all occupations.

Population and income growth are expected to result in more demand for food, drinks, and entertainment. This increased demand is expected to be met with increased bartender employment in full-service restaurants, which is projected to increase 7 percent. Bartender employment in drinking places, on the other hand, is projected to decrease 8 percent over the next ten years, as customers increasingly obtain these services at full-service restaurants and some local bars close.

Summary

Job Prospects

Employment of bartenders is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Overall job prospects are expected to be very good because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bartenders,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/bartenders.htm (visited Dec 5, 2019).

While plenty of people choose not to drink in college, roughly 3 out of 5 students do, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. [1] The NIAAA has found that – on the average – 39 percent of students between the ages of 18 and 22 reported engaging in binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion) in a month. [2]

About 1 in 4 college students report academic consequences from drinking, including missing class, falling behind in class, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall. [3]

Alcohol Measurement Definitions

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV) – Represents the volume of liquid that is ethanol compared to the entire volume of the drink.
• Alcohol by Weight (ABW) – Represents the weight of the liquid that is ethanol compared to the entire weight of the drink.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

Alcohol Definitions

• Ale or Malt Liquor – A malt beverage containing more than four percent of alcohol by
  weight. (Generally 5.1% or more ABV.)
• Beer – A malt beverage containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume
  and not more than four percent of alcohol by weight, and does not include a beverage
  designated by label or otherwise by a name other than beer. (Generally 5.1% and under
  ABV.)
• Distilled Spirits – Alcohol, spirits of wine, whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, or any liquor produced
  in whole or in part by the process of distillation, including all dilutions or mixtures of
  them, and includes spirit coolers that may have an alcoholic content as low as four percent alcohol by volume and contain plain, sparkling, or carbonated water and may also contain one or more natural or artificial blending or flavoring ingredients.
• Wine – A product obtained from the alcoholic fermentation of juice of sound ripe grapes,
  fruits, berries, or honey, and includes wine coolers.
• Standard Drink – Standard drink charts are helpful, however they may not reflect customary serving sizes.

What counts as a standard alcoholic drink?

Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a drink. In the United States, a “standard” drink is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of “pure” alcohol. Although the drinks pictured here are different sizes, each contains approximately the same amount of alcohol and counts as a single standard drink.

Consequences of Irresponsible Drinking

Young college students who drink alcohol y are more likely to experience:

• School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades.
• Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities.
• Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.
• Physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses.
• Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity.
• Disruption of normal growth and sexual development.
• Physical and sexual assault.
• Higher risk for suicide and homicide.
• Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning.
• Memory problems.
• Abuse of other drugs.
• Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects.
• Death from alcohol poisoning.

In general, the risk of students experiencing these problems is greater for those who binge drink than for those who do not binge drink.

Additional College Alcohol Abuse Resources

A college campus most likely has a counseling center with resources for addressing alcoholism, and there are local Alcoholics Anonymous chapters in virtually every city, not to mention options for support from mental health professionals or rehabilitation centers.

• College Drinking: Changing the Culture is a central location for information related to alcohol use by college students. Resources on this site include:
• Alcohol Policy Information System provides detailed information on alcohol-related policies in the United States at both state and federal levels. Detailed state-by-state information is available for more than 30 policies.
• Safer Campuses and Communities website is based on an NIAAA-funded study that examined a variety of environmental-level strategies that could be implemented on campuses and in their surrounding communities. A free toolkit for implementing the collaborative model is available online.

References

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – College Drinking (PDF)
   https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/CollegeFactSheet/CollegeFactSheet.pdf
3. Wechsler, H.; Dowdall, G.W.; Maenner, G.; et al. Changes in binge drinking and related problems among American college students between 1993 and 1997: Results of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study. Journal of American College Health 47(2):57– 68, 1998. PMID: 9782661 http://www. tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07448489809595621

Under dram shop laws, an establishment that serves alcohol to someone after he or she is visibly intoxicated can be held liable for the damage the drunk person causes — where, for example, he or she drives drunk and hurts someone.

Introduction to Dram Shop & Social Host Liability

A dram shop (or dramshop) is a bar, tavern or similar commercial establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold.

Dram shop law, also called dram shop liability, is a way to prevent an establishment that makes a profit from selling liquor by putting profit over public’ safety.

Dram shop liability refers to the body of law governing the liability of taverns, liquor stores, and other commercial establishments that serve alcoholic beverages.

In simple terms, dram shop laws hold retail establishments liable for damages caused by serving alcohol to an obviously intoxicated patron – and in some cases – the owner of a bar, restaurant, tavern or other establishment can be sued if an intoxicated patron causes a car accident.

The majority of states allow for recovery when the defendant knew (or should have known) the customer was intoxicated. Some states have attempted to address this problem through more exacting tests. Many states impose liability on social hosts as well as commercial establishments. This related area of the law is known as social host liability.

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

Effects of Dram Shop Laws

According to MADD (Mother Against Drunk Driving), the effects are dram shop laws are:

• Dram shop liability laws reduce alcohol-related crashes.
• Dram shop laws increase publicity of the impacts of over-serving.
• Dram shop laws decrease excessive and illegal consumption.
• Dram shop laws do not decrease personal responsibility.

Intent of Dram Shop Laws

The intent of dram shop laws is to encourage bar owners to train employees to recognize when this point has been reached by a patron, and cut off any further service or sale of alcohol.

When this guideline is ignored, it becomes much more likely that a patron will leave the bar and cause some kind of harm to himself and/or others by causing an auto accident.

It might also be that the patron becomes belligerent with excess alcohol and engages in a fistfight with other customers at the bar. Both types of behavior are clearly unacceptable.

Which states have Dram Shop laws?

Dram shop laws vary from state to state, but 43 states enacted dram shop laws in some form in response to the large number of DUIs that cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths. These laws allow some degree of liability against drinking establishments who allow visibly intoxicated patrons to drive away.

Dram Shop Laws by State – National Conference of State Legislatures

• States that do not have dram shop laws include: Virginia, South Dakota, Nevada, and Maryland.
• California has enacted a law specifically prohibiting civil liability of people, bars, and alcohol retailers that serve alcoholic beverages to those that subsequently cause injury or death to others.

Safe Harbor & Liability Mitigation

Alcohol Seller-Server training can mitigate liability during a lawsuit involving intoxication by providing evidence of intent on the part of the establishment that serves and sells alcoholic beverages.  This defense is called a “reasonable efforts defense” or “Safe Harbor”.

Although the “Safe Harbor” defense exists to protect employers, it is key that employers are both aware of and involved in the activities taking place in their particular establishment to avail themselves of this protection.  Therefore, in order to attempt to stay within and be able to rely upon the “Safe Harbor” defense, providers of alcohol should, at a minimum:

• • Require employee training with an approved training course.
  • Confirm that employees have attended training and are re-certified as required.
  • Maintain documentation of training of each employee who serves alcohol.
  • Maintain written policies against the over-service of alcohol and develop procedures intended to prevent such over-service from occurring.
  • Ensure compliance with the written policies and procedures that are put in place.
  • Discipline those employees who violate the policies, up to and including termination.

Additional Resources:

• Dram Shop Laws by State – National Conference of State Legislatures
• Dram Shop Laws | LegalMatch Law Library
• Dram Shop – Wikipedia

According to a national survey, almost 60 percent of college students ages 18–22 drank alcohol in the past month, and almost 2 out of 3 of them engaged in binge drinking.

Harmful and underage drinking remain significant problems on U.S. campuses, despite the collective efforts to address them. Alcohol-related problems can seem hard to control or deal with, leading to questions and frustration over how best to reduce student drinking and its negative consequences.

Alcohol Server Responsibilities

Back to school can be a busy time for anyone – especially alcohol servers. Don’t take shortcuts – check IDs. One of the best skills for an alcohol seller-server to have is how to keep an eye out for fake IDs.

Professionals who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situation

Alcohol Seller-Server Training - 10% OFF SALE

State Map

• Employees who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.
• State-Approved Training
• 100% online - No Classroom Attendance
• Download Certificate Upon Completion

College: Prevalence of Alcohol Use

According to the 2015 Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH):

• Prevalence of Drinking: 58.0% of full-time college students ages 18–22 drank alcohol in the past month compared with 48.2 percent of other persons of the same age.¹
• Prevalence of Binge Drinking: 37.9% of college students ages 18–22 reported binge drinking in the past month compared with 32.6 percent of other persons of the same age.¹
• Prevalence of Heavy Drinking: 12.5% of college students ages 18–22 reported heavy alcohol use in the past month compared with 8.5 percent of other persons of the same age.¹

To learn more about the prevalence of college drinking, click here.

College: Consequences of Alcohol Use

According to statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA), each year:

• 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes.²
• 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.³
• 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.⁴
• Roughly 20 percent of college students meet the criteria for an AUD.⁵
• About 1 in 4 college students report academic consequences from drinking, including missing class, falling behind in class, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.⁶

CollegeAIM – Alcohol Intervention Matrix

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) developed the CollegeAIM guide and website to help college personnel choose wisely among the many potential interventions to address harmful and underage college student drinking.

The centerpiece of the guide is a user-friendly, matrix-based tool developed with input from leading college alcohol researchers, along with college student life and alcohol and other drug (AOD) program staff. With this “college alcohol intervention matrix”—or CollegeAIM tool—school officials can easily use research-based information to inform decisions about alcohol intervention strategies.

If you are involved in efforts to reduce underage drinking and prevent alcohol-related harm on your campus, you are in a critical position to improve the health and safety of your students—and NIAAA’s CollegeAIM can help.

Case Study: Jennifer: What Really Happened

College students have been drinking alcohol for years, so when Jennifer’s parents decide to let her have a pool party with a little alcohol they figured – what could go wrong.

It was her 18th birthday, she was getting ready to start college and her older, responsible brother was going to be home. So they mix up a batch of “weak” margaritas, and remind her to be responsible before leaving.

A few posts on social media later and Jennifer is ready to celebrate with her best friend Cindy. A few more bottles of alcohol provided by her brother arrive along with a few more people than planned thanks to the numerous posts – it one of the first parties of summer vacation after all. Jennifer and her friends start celebrating and it does not take long for things to spiral out of control.

Jennifer and her family are left to face the realization that they are now responsible for damage caused when alcohol is provided to minors – “What Really Happened” impacts the community, friendships and everyone’s planned carefree summer.

Summary

As a Parent
If you’re a parent, there are things you can say and do to help. To stay involved while your child is away at school, talk to him or her about the dangers of underage drinking, such as sexual assault and DUI. Also, explain the penalties for underage drinking and underage DUI, and the consequences of a criminal conviction.

As an Alcohol Server
Bar, nightclub, and restaurant owners know that underage drinking can be a big problem and preventing underage drinking is a big responsibility.

Bartenders and alcohol servers should be on the lookout for anyone acting suspiciously or nervous when ordering a drink and should be in the habit of checking every ID—no matter how old the person looks.

Professionals who complete alcohol seller-server training are able to prevent sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, reduce liability, and effectively intervene in problem situations.

Additional College Drinking Information

• Visit NIAAA’s site CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov – Resource for comprehensive research-based information on issues related to alcohol abuse and binge drinking among college students.
• Read NIAAA’s fact sheet: College Drinking
• Read NIAAA’s fact sheet: Fall Semester—Time for Parents to Discuss the Risks of College Drinking

References

• ¹ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Table 6.84B—Tobacco Product and Alcohol Use in Past Month among Persons Aged 18 to 22, by College Enrollment Status: Percentages, 2014 and 2015. Available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.htm#tab6-84b. Accessed 1/18/17.
• ² Hingson, R.W.; Zha, W.; and Weitzman, E.R. Magnitude of and trends in alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18–24, 1998–2005. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (Suppl. 16):12–20, 2009. PMID: 19538908 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2701090/
• ³ Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M. et al. Magnitude of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18–24: changes from 1998 to 2001. Annual Review of Public Health 26: 259–279, 2005. PMID: 15760289  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15760289
• ⁴ Ibid.
• ⁵ Blanco, C.; Okuda, M.; Wright, C. et al. Mental health of college students and their non-college- attending peers: Results from the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Archives of General Psychiatry 65(12):1429–1437, 2008. PMID: 19047530 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2734947/
• ⁶ Wechsler, H.; Dowdall, G.W.; Maenner, G.; et al. Changes in binge drinking and related problems among American college students between 1993 and 1997: Results of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study. Journal of American College Health 47(2):57–68, 1998. PMID: 9782661 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07448489809595621