New Hampshire Revised Statutes 507-F:5 – Reckless Service of Alcoholic Beverages
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
|
Other versions
I. A person who becomes intoxicated may bring an action against a defendant for serving alcoholic beverages only when the server of such beverages is reckless. The service of alcoholic beverages is reckless when a defendant intentionally serves alcoholic beverages to a person when the server knows, or a reasonable person in his position should have known, that such service creates an unreasonable risk of physical harm to the drinker or to others that is substantially greater than that which is necessary to make his conduct negligent.
II. A defendant who recklessly provides alcoholic beverages to another is liable for resulting damages.
III. Specific serving practices that are admissible as evidence of reckless conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Active encouragement of intoxicated persons to consume substantial amounts of alcoholic beverages.
(b) Service of alcoholic beverages to a person, 16 years of age or under, when the server knows or should reasonably know the patron’s age.
(c) Service of alcoholic beverages to a patron that is so continuous and excessive that it creates a substantial risk of death by alcohol poisoning.
(d) The active assistance by a defendant of a patron into a motor vehicle when the patron is so intoxicated that such assistance is required, and the defendant knows or should know that the intoxicated person intends to operate the motor vehicle.
II. A defendant who recklessly provides alcoholic beverages to another is liable for resulting damages.
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 507-F:5
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of these laws, shall mean the section next preceding or following that in which such reference is made, unless some other is expressly designated. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:13
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
III. Specific serving practices that are admissible as evidence of reckless conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Active encouragement of intoxicated persons to consume substantial amounts of alcoholic beverages.
(b) Service of alcoholic beverages to a person, 16 years of age or under, when the server knows or should reasonably know the patron’s age.
(c) Service of alcoholic beverages to a patron that is so continuous and excessive that it creates a substantial risk of death by alcohol poisoning.
(d) The active assistance by a defendant of a patron into a motor vehicle when the patron is so intoxicated that such assistance is required, and the defendant knows or should know that the intoxicated person intends to operate the motor vehicle.