Most states have a dram shop law to deter providers of alcoholic beverages (servers, liquor stores, bars, restaurants) who sell or serve alcoholic beverages under authority of a license or permit from selling or serving alcoholic beverages to obviously intoxicated individuals.
These laws generally eliminate any liability of servers, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants when a person to whom they sell or serve alcohol causes personal injury or property damage—whether in an automobile accident, a fight, or other incident—unless the person to whom they sell or serve alcohol is obviously intoxicated.
Laws regarding dram shop liability vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes.
In Rhode Island, dram shop laws are codified under Rhode Island General Laws § 3-14-1 to § 3-14-8. These laws impose liability on licensed alcohol vendors, such as bars, restaurants, and liquor stores, for damages caused by the sale of alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals or to minors. If an intoxicated person causes injury or property damage after being served alcohol, the establishment that served them may be held legally responsible if it can be proven that the alcohol was provided to someone who was clearly intoxicated at the time of service. The law aims to encourage responsible serving practices and provides a legal recourse for victims seeking damages resulting from incidents involving intoxicated individuals.