Social Host Liability

Categories: Accounting

Maybe your parents slipped you some Bailey’s before you were of drinking age. Is that cool? Like...with the government?

It is under social host liability. Social host liability says that the social hosts (i.e. your parents in this case) are responsible for any liabilities as a result of serving a minor alcohol. This is why smart party hosts collect people’s keys at the door: they know liability is on them if your drunk dumb-butt drives home and gets into a wreck on the way.

Social host liability is something that comes up in civil actions, but it’s not universal. It depends on the rules of the particular jurisdiction you’re in. Over half of U.S. states have social host liability for damage and injuries caused by underaged drinkers.

Really, though...let them take your keys. It’s for the best.



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