Dram shop liability is recommended as effective in preventing and reducing alcohol-related harms. Dram shop liability allows the owner or server of a retail alcohol establishment where a customer recently consumed alcoholic beverages to be held legally responsible for the harms inflicted by that customer. Examples of such harms may include death, injury or other damages as a result of an alcohol-related car crash. Historically, the term dram shop referred to any establishment where alcohol was sold; a dram was a measure of alcohol. Some states impose restrictions on dram shop liability by capping the amount of compensation allowed in suits, by increasing the evidence required to demonstrate responsibility, or by imposing statutes of limitations.

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Effect Behavioral Change, Reduce Injury, Reduce Mortality, Business & Private Sector, Government & Policymakers, Law Enforcement, Environmental & Policy, Behavioral & Social, Families & Households

Community Preventive Services Task Force. Recommendations on dram shop liability and overservice law enforcement initiatives to prevent excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. Am J Prev Med [Internet]. 2011 Sep [cited 2013 Feb 15];41(3):344-6. Available from http://www.thecommunityguide.org/library/Dram%20Shop_Overservice%20recommendations.pdf