When referring to liability in the state of California, it's hard to avoid talking about Shelby's law. In 2008, Shelby Lyn Allen drank underage at a friend's house and died in a friend's bathroom. While Assembly Bill 2486 established social host liability to adults who consciously provide alcohol to minors who are subsequently injured or killed due to their drinking. Assembly Bill 1999, also known as "Shelby's Law," grants immunity from prosecution to underage drinkers seeking medical help for themselves or their peers. The bill was passed in hopes that underage drinkers can no longer fear prosecution for drinking underage when faced with a life or death situation.
To learn more about liability in California, please visit our California Responsible Beverage Service page.
