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 Utah, dram shop laws are codified in the Utah Code, specifically under Title 32B, Chapter 15, which addresses the liability of establishments that serve alcohol. Under Utah law, a licensed establishment that sells or furnishes alcohol to a person of legal drinking age is generally not liable for damages caused by the intoxicated person, unless the person was under the age of 21 or was visibly intoxicated at the time the alcohol was provided. This means that bars, restaurants, and liquor stores can be held liable if they serve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated individual or a minor, and that individual subsequently causes injury or property damage. Utah's dram shop laws are designed to encourage responsible serving practices and to provide a legal recourse in cases where the negligent service of alcohol contributes to harm.