Dram Shop Liability in Colorado
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Colorado holds bars and stores liable for serving visibly intoxicated people or underage drinkers who cause injury.
How Colorado treats Dram Shop Liability
Colorado's dram shop law, codified in CRS 12-47-801, imposes liability on alcohol vendors who serve someone they know or should know is intoxicated or underage. The vendor must have actual or constructive knowledge of the person's intoxication or age. Liability extends to third parties injured by the intoxicated person's conduct, such as accident victims. Social hosts generally do not face dram shop liability under Colorado law.
The general definition of Dram Shop Liability
Legal responsibility of bars or stores for harm caused by serving alcohol to intoxicated people.
Dram shop liability holds businesses that sell alcohol accountable when they serve drinks to someone who is already drunk or visibly intoxicated, and that person then causes injury or damage to others. The law recognizes that the bar or store had a duty to refuse service in these situations. If they fail to do so and the customer harms someone—say, by driving drunk—the business can be sued for those damages. The idea is to discourage over-serving and create an incentive for responsible alcohol service.
Read the full Dram Shop Liability entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.