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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Alcohol – Excessive Consumption: Dram Shop Liability

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services

Last Reviewed: March 2010

Workgroups: Substance Use Workgroup

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) concludes that dram shop liability is effective in preventing and reducing alcohol-related harms. Named after an old term for businesses that sell alcohol, dram shop liability laws make business owners legally responsible if someone buys a drink at the business, leaves, and then causes harm. CPSTF found that dram shop liability laws prevent harms related to excessive drinking — like death or injury from motor vehicle crashes. 

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Objectives related to this resource (1)

Reduce the proportion of motor vehicle crash deaths that involve a drunk driver — SU‑11
Getting worse

Suggested Citation

1.

Guide to Community Preventive Services. (2010). Alcohol - Excessive consumption: Dram shop liability. Retrieved from https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/alcohol-excessive-consumption-dram-shop-liability