Alcohol Liability Law Upheld – Affects Car Accidents

In Missouri, alcohol liability lawsuits may be brought against bars and restaurants. However, grocery stores and convenience stores are not subject to such lawsuits. The Missouri Supreme Court recently upheld this law. The law makes a distinction between establishments that sell alcoholic drinks for consumption on site and those that don’t. For instance, under certain circumstances, if a car accident is caused by a person who became “visibly intoxicated” at a bar or restaurant, that bar or restaurant may be subject to liability. But the Missouri Supreme Court found that stores that sell packaged liquor for outside consumption should be treated differently. In this case, a mother sued the convenience store that sold a 12-pack of beer to her 20-year old son, the night before he died in a car accident. Her suit was dismissed.