Dram Shop Liability in Louisiana
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Louisiana recognizes dram shop liability for sales to minors and visibly intoxicated persons under Civil Code Article 2322.
How Louisiana treats Dram Shop Liability
Louisiana imposes liability on alcohol vendors who sell to anyone under 21 or to a person they know or reasonably should know is visibly intoxicated. Civil Code Article 2322 codifies this rule, making it one of the clearest statutory bases in the nation. Vendors can be held liable for injuries caused by the intoxicated person to third parties. Louisiana also recognizes social host liability in some circumstances, extending the doctrine beyond commercial vendors.
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 Louisiana.