December 2009

What is a Dram Shop and What Are Dram Driving Laws?

Billie somewhere in the United States asks: What does Dram Driving Law mean? Is there such a law?

Hello Billie, I have to admit this question was one of the stranger ones that have come my way.

A "Dram Shop" is legal talk for a bar or tavern. Dram Driving Laws generally refer to legislation that punishes bars or bar owners who either serve minors alcohol and then the minors get into an accident. Some times Dram Driving Laws are applied to non-minors as well if it is believed that the bar establishment kept serving the patron alcohol after they were already intoxicated at some level.

I'm not a legal expert, but I found Wikipedia's article about Dram to be informational. Please note however that Wikipedia is never a definitive source (they let idiots like me post on their site) and that Dram Driving Laws will vary from state to state: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dram_shop

Until next time Billie, may your search for Dram Driving Law answers be a fruitful one!

Jonny Driving School
DrivingSchoolProgram.com

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