Most states hold a dispenser of alcoholic beverages responsible for the bodily injuries and/or property damages to a third party caused by a patron who may have become visibly intoxicated in a licensed establishment.  Other states also hold a dispenser of alcoholic beverages responsible for minors served who commit such acts.  The ultimate goal of Dram Shop liability is to place at least a portion, if not all of the responsibility, of the actions of an intoxicated patron and/or minor patron on the establishment in which that visibly intoxicated patron or minor was served and who may have caused bodily injury and/or property damage to another party.

Many factors are considered when dealing with a civil action involving liquor liability.  Besides the obvious, which would be the amount of alcohol served to an individual and/or the age of the individual, the actions and behavior of the patron is very important also.  Equally important are the actions of the servers as well as their training in the industry, or lack thereof.  Numerous states offer alcohol awareness or alcohol server training and programs which can be a valuable tool in documenting proper steps a server takes while conducting their business or may assist in preventing or eliminating a civil action altogether.