Planning a Halloween Bar Crawl? Here’s How South Carolina Dram Shop Laws May Apply

Search “South Carolina Halloween Bar Crawl,” and you may see several events pop up. Bar crawl events are scheduled in Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and several other South Carolina cities this year. They cover weekends from mid-October to Halloween.

A local bar crawl can be a great way to hang out with friends, check out various local venues, and enjoy snacks, prizes, and, yes – drinks. Venues that serve alcohol in South Carolina can be held liable for injuries in certain situations. To understand your rights, you may need to understand how South Carolina Dram Shop laws apply. 

Bar Crawls and Dram Shop Laws in South Carolina

During a bar crawl, participants visit various bars in a neighborhood for several hours. Each venue offers a unique atmosphere, fun activities or prizes, and drinks to bar crawl patrons. Depending on the place, tickets for a bar crawl often include one or more free drinks. 

South Carolina Statute Section 61-4-580 prohibits any person or business from furnishing alcoholic beverages to someone who is already visibly intoxicated. If a person or business gives alcohol to someone who is already visibly drunk, and that person goes on to injure another, the injured person may be able to bring a claim against the person or business that provided the alcohol. These cases are called “dram shop” cases after an old name for bars, where liquor was often sold by a unit of measurement called a “dram.” 

To win a dram shop case in South Carolina, an injured person must show that:

• The business served alcohol to someone who was visibly intoxicated,
• The business knew or should have known the person was “visibly intoxicated” when it served the alcohol, and
• That person’s intoxication caused or contributed to the harm the injured person suffered.

Demonstrating that a bar’s staff knew or should have known a patron was visibly intoxicated can be challenging, especially during a crowded, busy event like a bar crawl. An experienced South Carolina injury lawyer can help. 

When investigating a dram shop claim, an attorney may speak to witnesses, including other patrons or employees at the bar. Your attorney may seek any video footage from the business, which may help to show whether a patron was visibly intoxicated. Police records from an accident, such as body camera or dashcam footage, can also help show whether someone who caused an accident was visibly drunk. Evidence such as credit card bills and receipts may show how much alcohol was purchased and at what times, which can lead to inferences about intoxication. 

What To Do If You’re Injured During a Bar Crawl Event

No one plans a bar crawl night with the intention of becoming injured. If you’re hurt by someone who has been drinking during Halloween events, however, take these important first steps:

• Keep yourself and others safe. In a car accident, this might mean moving vehicles out of the way of traffic. Use vehicle lights, flares, or flashlights to warn oncoming drivers about the crash. In a bar or other venue, this might mean moving to a safer location or moving away from someone intent on causing harm.
• Call 911. Call 911 or have someone you trust make the call. Emergency first responders can help in several ways. They can assess and treat injuries, transport injured people to local hospitals or emergency centers and document the scene and injuries. 
• Get medical treatment as soon as possible. If you didn’t go to the emergency room immediately after the injury, see a doctor as soon as you can. A physician can assess your condition and prescribe appropriate treatment. 
• Talk to an experienced lawyer. An attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options in a dram shop claim or other type of injury case. 

Other injuries can also occur during a bar crawl. For example, South Carolina bars, restaurants, and other public venues are responsible for keeping their premises safe and warning patrons about hidden dangers, like wet floors or loose stair railings. If you’re injured due to a dangerous condition at a bar or other venue, talk to an attorney as well. 

Speak to an Experienced South Carolina Injury Lawyer For Help

If you’re injured in an auto accident or another interaction with an intoxicated person, you can hold that person accountable for the harm they’ve caused. You may also be able to seek compensation from a person or business if that party provided alcohol to the person while they were visibly intoxicated.

The experienced South Carolina injury attorneys at the Steinberg Law Firm can answer your questions about dram shop law. To learn more, contact our office today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.