Nobody forces an individual to drink. If the individual isn't staggering drunk how can a bartender be expected to evaluate the degree of intoxication if the individual had arrived late or not consumed a few drinks in their presence? Does the bartender have to monitor every patron, prior to serving, to establish if they are driving or arrived by cab or bus or afoot? Does a walking drinker get served more drinks than a driving drinker. A bartender just serves alcohol as a job. They are not psychologists or counselors or whatever. Just because a person was placed at a particular location does not establish behavioral evaluation. A busy bartender serves multiple patrons and has no way of knowing how many drinks were consumed (if any) prior to a patrons arrival.
It is unfortunate people were killed however, but what ever happened to personal responsibility? Is it all about getting money to make things better? I do not condone drunk driving. But placing blame on several establishments over a period of many hours goes way to far.
I look forward to the day when anyone filing such a lawsuit gets hit with fines for wasting the court's time.
Only one person had their hands on the steering wheel. The search for liability ends there.
If the individual isn't staggering drunk how can a bartender be expected to evaluate the degree of intoxication if the individual had arrived late or not consumed a few drinks in their presence?
While the way a person is one of the easiest ways to a drunk person it is not the only one. If you have seen as many drunks as a bartender you would know the their eye's,speech and mannerism are good signs also. If I suspected someone was too drunk to serve I would first tell them I thought they had enough. If they challenged me on it the final decision was made by the manager who observed them after being alerted by me.
Does the bartender have to monitor every patron, prior to serving, to establish if they are driving or arrived by cab or bus or afoot?
Usually, it is apparent to a good waitress or bartender that someone has been drinking prior,again the eyes, speech and mannerism come in to play. They are fooling themselves if they think they aren't being watched.
Does a walking drinker get served more drinks than a driving drinker.
While we like to see our patrons have fun we never like to see anyone get drunk even walkers.
A bartender just serves alcohol as a job. They are not psychologists or counselors or whatever. Just because a person was placed at a particular location does not establish behavioral evaluation.
Wrong, many bartenders take pride in their job just like everyone else. We feel responsible for our employers and our patrons. We become confidants to many who have no one else to talk to and behavior monitoring comes naturally.
A busy bartender serves multiple patrons and has no way of knowing how many drinks were consumed (if any) prior to a patrons arrival.
Well, you could be kidding yourself here because before I retired 2 years ago it had already been established that waitress ticket given to a bartender had amount of people sitting at the table and any suspected prior drinker had his/her number seat circled. One drink was served but before it was finished the bar crew had decided if they would be allowed to finish it or served another, or ask to leave. As far as drinks consumed at the table or the bar, the drink was printed on the ticket with the chair number the customer was sitting at.
Gotta love them computers!