We love a party as much as the next guy.
But know this:
If your celebration includes serving alcohol, your potential liability — criminal as well as civil — likely is greater than it ever has been before.
According to Claims Management, many states recently have passed “dram shop laws” or “social host laws.”
Both hold that a host who serves alcohol is potentially liable not just for a guest’s injury or death, but also for the harm that person causes to a third party.
The risk is even greater in some states, if the person harmed is a minor.
“This is a relatively rapidly changing area and it’s going in one direction, trending toward more liability,” James Mosher, a consultant who maintains the Alcohol Policy Information System, told the Wall Street Journal.
The Journal cited the case of a Rhode Island woman who allowed her daughter to have a few friends over after a homecoming dance, warning the group alcohol and drugs wouldn’t be tolerated.
Unfortunately, she dozed off, only to awaken and discover more than a dozen teens and a supply of beer were on her property. The teens fled and four of the guests were injured when their vehicle struck a tree. The mother was charged with a misdemeanor under Rhode Island’s social-host law.
“Our position is that it’s not enough to say ‘You can’t drink.’ These were 15- and 16-year-olds; she had a higher duty,” Richmond, R.I., prosecutor Michael Cozzolino said.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving offers some advice for hosting a responsible gathering, from planning an alcohol-absorbing food menu to considering how to deal with an intoxicated guest.
Still, you might want to consult with an attorney before the celebration — better that than having to do so after a teen ties one on.