Drunk driving or other inappropriate use of alcohol in Connecticut can be related to countless accidents in which innocent victims are injured or even killed. If you or a loved one has been impacted by such an incident, you know the unending pain that these events can cause. When minors are the ones who have consumed alcohol, the issues surrounding liability can become very complex especially when legal adults have facilitated the alcohol possession.
Drugfree.org discusses how the state of Connecticut approaches what is referred to as social hosting. A social host is essentially an adult with responsibility for any private premises on which minors are allowed to possess and consume alcohol. If anyone is injured or killed due to the alcohol consumption of a minor on these premises, the adult in question can be held liable for damages. This is according to the state Supreme Court even though no specific social host law is in existence.
Any adult found to have allowed a minor to drink or have alcohol at a location the adult owns can be charged with an infraction for a first offense. The adult can be fined, spend time in prison or both for any subsequent offenses. It is not only individuals who can be held liable but also businesses if the property is held by a corporation, LLC or other business entity.
