What is the law regarding serving alcohol to individuals under the age of twenty-one in my state?
In North Carolina, it is illegal to serve alcohol to anyone under 21 years old. Any individual, corporation, partnership or other business that sells, furnishes, gives or causes to be served alcoholic beverage to someone under 21 years old may be held liable for damages resulting from the minor’s consumption of the beverage. Serving alcohol to a minor is considered a criminal offense and can result in significant fines from the state and even prison time. The law also imposes civil liability on businesses that allow minors to consume or purchase alcohol, even if the sale of the alcohol was not intentional. For example, a business can be held liable if it is determined that the business negligently or intentionally allowed a minor to consume or purchase alcoholic beverages. Since North Carolina has a zero-tolerance policy around minors consuming alcohol, it is important to be aware of the law when serving alcohol in the state. It is against the law to serve anyone under the age of 21 alcohol, even if the minor is accompanied by an adult. Additionally, business owners should take extra caution to train their employees to properly check IDs of customers who appear to be underage.
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