| In the past the only person that could be held | | | | be sued for damages. |
| liable for damages when a drunk driving crash | | | | Individual States and Dram Laws |
| occurred was the intoxicated individual driving. | | | | Today there are currently 43 states (and |
| After the accident, the drunk driver could face | | | | Washington D.C.) in the United States that have |
| criminal charges as well as subsequent civil | | | | enacted dram shop laws. These laws vary from |
| charges for damages, both physical and emotional. | | | | state to state, as does their actual enforcement. |
| But many states felt that the current law at the | | | | Some states use these laws to focus more on |
| time which only targeted the driver was not | | | | establishments who serve alcohol to minors who |
| adequate enough to truly reduce the rates of | | | | then cause accidents. In some states, minors |
| drunk drivers. Legislators felt that more than one | | | | even have the right to sue the establishments |
| party should be responsible in certain cases of | | | | themse4lves for injuries sustained while |
| serious car accidents involving alcohol. As a result, | | | | intoxicated. |
| current dram shop laws were passed in a number | | | | The idea behind dram laws was to protect the |
| of states. | | | | general public at large from minors who are |
| "Dram shop" is a hold over term from colonial | | | | served alcohol or adults who are served large |
| times when alcohol serving establishments (called | | | | amounts. The enforcement and enactment of |
| shops) used units of liquid measurement called | | | | many of these laws was mainly driven by the |
| drams to serve alcohol. The earliest laws came | | | | non-profit group Mothers Against Drunk Driving or |
| about in the 19th century in conjunction with the | | | | MADD. |
| temperance movement. Current dram shop laws | | | | Shop laws have experienced intense criticism |
| make it possible for bar owners and bar tenders | | | | from organizations and individuals advocating the |
| alike to be held financially liable in certain DUI | | | | role of personal liability. Bar owners and |
| crashes. The law is such that if a bartender allows | | | | bartenders have also argued that it is near to |
| someone to become grossly intoxicated at their | | | | impossible to accurately judge the extent of an |
| establishment and that individual leaves the bar | | | | individual's intoxication before they leave the bar. |
| and injures someone or causes property damage | | | | They feel that any liability they have what drunk |
| with his or her vehicle, the bar and bar tender can | | | | patrons do after they leave the bar is unjust. |