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Simple English definitions for legal terms
dram-shop act
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A quick definition of dram-shop act:
A dram-shop act is a law that allows someone who has been hurt by a drunk person to sue the business that sold the alcohol. This law was made because some people think that businesses that sell alcohol should be responsible for what happens when people drink too much. Not all states have this law, but some do. If a business breaks the rules about selling alcohol, they can be sued more easily.
A more thorough explanation:
A dram-shop act is a law that allows a person who has been injured by an intoxicated customer to sue the commercial seller of alcoholic beverages for damages. This law is also known as a civil-liability act or civil-damage law.
For example, if a person gets drunk at a bar and then causes a car accident that injures someone else, the injured person can sue the bar for damages under the dram-shop act.
The dram-shop act was created in response to the temperance movement, which sought to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Many states have enacted dram-shop acts, but the number of states with these laws is declining.
In some states, there is no specific dram-shop act, but courts have created a common law dram shop action. This means that a person can still sue a commercial seller of alcoholic beverages for damages, even if there is no specific law allowing them to do so.