What Is The Minnesota Dram Shop Law?

The Minnesota Dram Shop Law is a state statute designed to protect people from the results of the illegal sale of alcohol. In Minnesota, the sale of alcohol is regulated, and those regulations are placed to control the sale of alcohol and protect the public from issues that arise from the consumption of too much alcohol, as well as to keep alcohol out of the hands of underaged people.

NGSW&B is your professional legal source for those who have been injured due to the illegal sale of alcohol.

What Makes the Sale of Alcohol Illegal?

The sale of alcohol is regulated in Minnesota. If the sale of alcohol falls outside those regulations, even when the seller has a permit or license to sell alcohol, the sale is deemed illegal. 

Here are some examples of when the sale of alcohol is illegal:

• The seller does not have a license to sell alcohol – Any sale of alcohol by someone who is not licensed in the State of Minnesota is illegal.
• The seller continues to sell alcohol to someone who is intoxicated. That scenario happens most often in bars, taverns, and nightclubs. Part of the regulations for the approval or licensing of a business that sells alcohol is not to sell to someone who is already intoxicated.
• The seller permits the sale of alcohol to occur outside the parameters of their license. An example would be if a tavern continues to serve alcohol after 2 AM.

The Results of Breaking the Dram Shop Law

The results of breaking the dram shop law can potentially lead to an injury or loss of life. Someone who is served (sold) too much alcohol in a bar, tavern, or club, and then drives their car drunk, killing a pedestrian is an example of the result of breaking the dram shop law. The business that sold the excess alcohol to the driver of that car is also held responsible.

The Bottom Line

Many types of injuries result from occurrences when the dram shop law is broken. Those results can lead to violence, domestic violence, injuries sustained during a vehicle accident, boating accident, or even a bicycle accident, etc. The injuries that result from alcohol-related accidents can be devastating. People die and the loss of life is common. People sustain severe injuries that change their lives forever. Some people are so severely injured that they are debilitated and require medical care for the rest of their lives.

Call NGSW&B If You’ve Been Injured In An Accident

If you are injured or have been injured in an alcohol-related accident, you have only a certain amount of time to file a legal case. If you are unsure if your personal injury case applies to the dram shop law, give us a call. NGSW&B is an experienced law firm with an expert personal injury attorney ready to help victims deal with the results when others break the dram shop law.