NO LIABILITY FOR SELF-SERVICE ALCOHOL
Under New Jersey law, servers of alcoholic beverages may be liable for the later conduct of a person who becomes intoxicated. This extends not only to businesses like restaurants and bars, but also to homeowners who serve alcohol at their homes at parties at gatherings. It was therefore significant that the New Jersey Supreme Court recently held that at a large get together at a picnic ground where kegs of beer were available for self service, the sponsoring organization (a social club) did not have the legal responsibility to monitor attendees, and therefore was not liable for the deaths of partygoers who were riding in a car driven by another attendee who became intoxicated at the party through the self service of alcohol.