Restaurant responsibility for drunk patrons

Firm News,Social Host Liability On Friday, May 12, 2017

Many people may not consider the responsibilities which Connecticut bars and restaurants have to ensure that their customers make it home safely. However, the duty of these establishments is laid out in dram shop civil liability statutes. The National Conference of State Legislatures says that dram laws consider businesses which sell alcohol to be liable if a customer becomes drunk and harms someone.

In Connecticut, if someone damages property or causes physical harm to a person after drinking alcohol, the business which provided the liquor usually needs to be notified. After receiving a notification, businesses are typically required to provide compensation for the injuries a person incurred at the hands of the drunk customer. Compensation may also be required if property was damaged. Businesses generally pay $250,000 at most to the people affected by their inebriated customers.

It is usually in the best interests of a business to ensure that customers do not become inebriated. The Balance says that restaurants may want to invest in training so their staff understands how to sell alcohol to patrons. This kind of training can help waiters and bartenders cope with inebriated customers, as well as recognize when they should stop serving alcohol.

Some businesses may choose to serve only a certain number of drinks to patrons or to restrict the kind of drinks they serve. If a customer does become drunk, it is usually a good idea to make sure a taxi drives the person home. Businesses may also want to serve food and coffee and make sure the patron does not receive any more alcohol.

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