Social Host Civil Liability and Minor Traffic Safety

Abstract

Alcohol is a contributing factor in traffic crash fatalities involving young drivers. A number of strategies have been employed to limit minors' access to alcohol, such as zero tolerance laws and use/lose laws. Social host civil liability is one option many states have tried to restrict the availability of alcohol for minors. Akin to commercial alcohol server responsibility, social host tort law holds the non-commercial alcohol providers liable for the injuries sustained or caused by drinking minors or obviously intoxicated adults. This report describes alcohol involvement3 for young drivers, introduces social host civil liability, and presents the arguments for and against the establishment of social host tort liability.