California CodesBusiness and Professions Code - BPCDivision 9 — Alcoholic BeveragesChapter 16 — Regulatory ProvisionsArticle 1 — In GeneralSection 25602

(a) Every person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away, any alcoholic beverage to any habitual or common drunkard or to any obviously intoxicated person is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) No person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away, any alcoholic beverage pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section shall be civilly liable to any injured person or the estate of such person for injuries inflicted on that person as a result of intoxication by the consumer of such alcoholic beverage.

(c) The Legislature hereby declares that this section shall be interpreted so that the holdings in cases such as Vesely v. Sager (5 Cal. 3d 153), Bernhard v. Harrah’s Club (16 Cal. 3d 313) and Coulter v. Superior Court (____ Cal. 3d ____) be abrogated in favor of prior judicial interpretation finding the consumption of alcoholic beverages rather than the serving of alcoholic beverages as the proximate cause of injuries inflicted upon another by an intoxicated person.

Notes

Establishes misdemeanor liability for selling, furnishing, or giving alcohol to a habitual or common drunkard or an obviously intoxicated person. Bars civil liability of the provider to an injured person or estate for injuries caused by the consumer intoxication, and states legislative intent to treat consumption rather than service as the proximate cause.

Use as reference

Lexinter.net | California Code, Business and Professions Code - BPC § 25602 | https://laws.lexinter.net/codes/california/business-and-professions-code/division-9/chapter-16/article-1/section-25602

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