Are social hosts liable for damages caused by an intoxicated guest?

In California, social hosts may be held liable for damages caused by an intoxicated guest if certain circumstances are present. Generally speaking, a social host may be held liable if they either served the guest alcohol even if they were already intoxicated or continued to serve the guest alcohol despite knowing the guest was drunk. A court may also assign liability if the social host knew the guest was underage and served them alcohol. The California Supreme Court has clarified that any damages caused by the intoxicated guest are compensable in court. This means a social host could be made to pay for any damages that resulted from their actions. For example, if a guest was served alcohol at an event, became drunk, and then caused a car accident, the social host could be held liable for the injuries suffered by the victims. Social hosts must take caution not to serve alcohol to intoxicated guests and should always check the age of the person they are serving alcohol to. Ignoring the signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech or impaired judgment, can put social hosts at risk for being held accountable for any damages caused by their guests.

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Are social hosts liable for damages caused by an intoxicated guest?

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