Social Host Liability
Defining social host liability is not an easy task. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) defines it as the following: "statute or case law that imposes potential liability on social hosts as a result of their serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated persons or minors who subsequently are involved in crashes causing death or injury to third-parties." This definition is a general description of social host liability, but it is not completely thorough. Liability is not only imposed when intoxicated persons are involved in crashes. Under social host liability, liability may be imposed whenever an intoxicated person causes death or injury to another person or destroys a third-person's property. The theory behind social host liability is simple. It creates liability on "social hosts" who provide alcohol to individuals who, in turn, harm another person or property. A social host is seen by the law as an individual or group who sponsors an event serving alcohol or owns the facility where the event is held.
Written by: Jeff Leesman
Former President – Sigma Phi Delta – University of Illinois |
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