Social Host Liability for Serving Alcohol to a Parent

[sharontotherow]

Aaron, you seem to know alot about law. My ex-husband is being charged with Child Endangerment for being in a DUI accident with my 7 yr old son in the car. In the police report it states the couple that had the party knew he had been drinking but didn't know how much and they let him leave with my son at midnight. He was so drunk he didn't know how to open the car door and the officer had to yell through the window to tell him how and he even said he wasn't driving and ended up falling on top of the female officer. So, to make a long story short, are there any legal ramifications for the couple that had the party??

[aaron]

It is my understanding that South Carolina imposes potential social host liability, through civil lawsuits, on hosts who serve alcohol to people under the age of 21 when accidents result from the minor's impaired driving. I'm not aware of any civil or criminal sanction which would apply to a social host when an adult is served.

[sharontotherow]

Thank you for responding Aaron. Have a good night Yankee, from a fellow yankee herself. Moved here from Michigan in 2000. Don't miss the 3 months of summer!!!!