Should Bars Be Liable For Drunk Patrons?

[ftcret]

I hope for a day when the grown ups are in charge of legislation.

Ray

 

[bcp]

And that is why I chose to get out - too many people trying to get something for nothing. The insurance cost me 12,000 per year (and this was in the early 2000's). Always someone wanting the business owners wallet - even if the last place identified is not where the person got intoxicated.
How many times do you see someone get all irate because a manager or supervisor of bar staff strike up a conversation with a potential customer to check their level (easiest way is to ask for an ID) and walkout? Now they go and wipe out your family, you dont care if they were served or not - "you let them drive away" so you are financially/morally responsible. They were last seen in your establishment. Think it is a reach? It isn't. You can always plead your case in court - maybe you have a lawyer in the family and it won't cost you. Good luck with that. Shiite happens, quit looking for someone to blame for everything.

I dont think its a reach for a bartender to stop the person from drinking after a certain number of drinks.
since they dont, and they continue to serve well after they know the person is most likely trashed, they are negligent all in the name of the dollar.
bar owners are willing to trade public safety for a quick buck.

 

[ftcret]

I dont think its a reach for a bartender to stop the person from drinking after a certain number of drinks.
since they dont, and they continue to serve well after they know the person is most likely trashed, they are negligent all in the name of the dollar.
bar owners are willing to trade public safety for a quick buck.

Oh, why didn't you say so?

 

[Gilligan]

I dont think its a reach for a bartender to stop the person from drinking after a certain number of drinks.
since they dont, and they continue to serve well after they know the person is most likely trashed, they are negligent all in the name of the dollar.
bar owners are willing to trade public safety for a quick buck.

Not at my bar. Yes, of course some left impaired anyway because you can't control everything, but all of my bartenders (had probably 10 or so that worked there...one of the larger bars in SOMD back then) were quick to shut someone off if it became evident that they were potentially being "overserved". But that said...it can take some real skill and a lot of experience to "cull" those people out, especially when the bar has 200 patrons in it..with some always arriving and some always leaving.

Off course bar owners want to make money..but they also often live in the community where their business is and are not all out to promote disasters for the sake of a buck,

 

[vraiblonde]

Policy that is created on the "what if it was your..." argument, as has been brought up in this discussion. We end up with laws and policy created based on emotion instead of common sense and logic.

Exactly.

People are going to die. Get over it, it's just the way it is. The odds of your child getting whacked out by a drunk driver are statistically insignificant, just like the odds that they'll be abducted by a stranger. But hey, let's don't let that get in the way of a good freak-out. When some activist tells you to flip out, by god, you better get to flippin'.

And this is what our legislators react to, which is how we get all these stupid laws that create more problems than they solve. So thanks for that, freaks.

 

[vraiblonde]

Off course bar owners want to make money..but they also often live in the community where their business is and are not all out to promote disasters for the sake of a buck,

He knows that, he's just trying to stir chit up. Once a bar gets a reputation for being some drunk fight club dirtbag place, their days are numbered. Ask Catamaran's. Even Brass Rail has cleaned up their act and don't encourage amateur nights anymore.

 

[BOP]

No. That is like saying that a grocery store should be responsible for a customers diabetes or obesity.

You drink, you accept the consequences for your actions.

There you go, talking like a conservative again.

 

[BOP]

Extremely poor analogy on multiple points.

1st a store has no way of knowing if someone is a diabetic. It is quite obvious when someone is drunk and incapable of operating a motor vehicle.

2nd. diabetes or obesity does not make that person an immediate and imminent threat to the public.

If some fat hog goes in the store, buys a box of twinkies...eats all of them while standing in the store, there is no reasonable or rationale expectation that the patron is a danger to the public if s/he gets behind the wheel of a car.

When a bar serves a patron 17 beers and a shot in 5 hours, only a complete moron would think the patron was not a threat to the public if s/he got behind the wheel.

Well, except for the sugar coma.

 

[Gilligan]

. Once a bar gets a reputation for being some drunk fight club dirtbag place, their days are numbered. .

Pat Insley and Skip Stewart made no bones about that back in the day when I owned a big bar. The MD law might not be too hard on bartenders that can't control their business...but the Liquor Board and the compliance patrol was another matter altogether and a power unto themselves.

I remember the call I got from Pat not 24 hours after a brand new (and frankly stunning) bartender of mine personally demonstrated what bellybutton shots were. I was not there and had not even heard about it. But Pat had..and read me the riot act.

But don't let my anomalous experiences with the "system" get in the way of anyone that feels the need to bash bar owners in general.

 

[GURPS]

And now the states want to turn bartenders into babysitters?

I guess it just takes a village, huh?

businesses have deeper pockets and multiple people can be sued

 

[BOP]

I have an even better idea:

What if we just got rid of private transportation and everyone rode a bus? That way nobody would ever drive drunk (especially if we made it all automated and got rid of bus drivers).

It would be even better to get rid of all motor vehicle transportation. Make people ride a bike and solve two problems at once - obesity and drunk driving. I see you fatties sitting in rush hour traffic stuffing chips and snack cakes in your maws, stressing out and practically begging for a heart malfunction. You all could do with some exercise.

Of course then how would our kids get to school, since nobody wants them walking more than a few feet? Biking it is probably out of the question since a pedophile might chase them down the street with candy.

Hmmmm.... This banning stuff is tougher than I thought.

Well, there's your problem: you're thinking about consequences. Silly woman; liberals don't think about fallout, ramifications, or unintended consequences when they're banning stuff.

 

[czygvtwkr]

No.

 

[vraiblonde]

businesses have deeper pockets

Or the unwashed think they do, anyway. You cannot explain to droolers where money comes from or how it gets acquired because they have always been on the dole and think it just comes from, you know, the government. Like, you just get a check.

They also don't understand that by putting a small business under, you unemploy any number of people. And while they're busy not understanding, they think anyone who owns a business, even a little bitty local one, is you know, like Bill Gates. Using benjamins to wipe their butt and clevelands to snort blow. Probably has a few illegals that they beat daily just for the workout.

In short, people are stupid.

 

[GURPS]

Business owners in Maryland have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. The sad part is, instead of using common sense and policing themselves, they are in it to make the quick buck.

does this include bakery's not wanting to sell rainbow cupcakes to queers

 

[GURPS]

Could the bar patron then sue the bar for kidnapping and false imprisonment?

you can still walkout :shrug:


get the car tomorrow

 

[GURPS]

As I said, plaintiff in this case produced testimony claiming more law would save 14 lives in Maryland per year. 14.

would MORE Laws be cost effective to reduce that 14 down ..... how much more do you have to spend

 

[GURPS]

And, how long before some punk at the establishment gets fired, steals some Schmoes keys and makes off with a patrons car?

[insert Ferris Bueller Ferrari JOY Ride - Not Ferris but the parking garage guys]