Persons subject to social-host liability in civil actions are typically those that provided alcohol to the obviously intoxicated social guests who subsequently are involved in vehicle crashes or other activities causing death or injury to third parties, or to minors who are injured as a result of intoxication that results from service of alcohol by the host, but the circumstances under which social host liability can result varies by jurisdiction.
Exceptions from that prohibition for service of alcohol to minors in family settings, for religious reasons and other purposes varies by state.
[3] Thirty-one states allow for social host liability for damages or injuries caused by underaged drinkers.
[5] In Canada, social host liability for the service of alcohol to adult guests was restricted by the Supreme Court in the case of Childs v. Desormeaux.
The court found that social hosts do not have a duty of care to third parties who are injured by an intoxicated guest.