Colorado Supreme Court


Underage drinking: The Colorado Dram Shop Act

Colorado’s Supreme Court Provides Clarity on Social Host Liability Under the Dram Shop Act

For most parents, it is easy to imagine one’s college-aged son or daughter making a seemingly innocuous choice, i.e., hosting a party where alcohol is served, without giving much thought to the potential outcomes.  For a lawyer, it is similarly easy to imagine the grave consequences that could result from the decision to host such a party.  Those worlds came together in Przekurat v. Torres, a case arising from a serious car accident that occurred after the underage driver attended a college party where the hosts served alcohol.

In its Przekurat opinion, issued September 10, 2018, the Colorado Supreme Court clarified an important issue on social host liability under Colorado’s Dram Shop Act, holding that a social host who provides a place to drink alcohol must have actual knowledge that a specific guest is underage to be held liable for any damages caused by that underage guest.… » Read the full post