Alcohol & Drugs: MIP, MIC, Intoxication wedding issues

[hmrswngr]

I live in Helena MT and plan to be married this summer and wanted to have a open bar, supplied by me, at the reception is there laws making me liable for anything that happens by my guest drinking. The alchohol is all free and no one under the age of 21 will be drinking at all.

 

[irish223]

By 'open bar' do you mean you'll hire a bartender, or do you mean your guests will serve themselves?

 

[hmrswngr]

someone will probably serve the alchohol but not an actual bartender just someone i ask to.

 

[irish223]

If something happens, then you may very likely be held liable. The information below is from an online discussion that can be found at this link:
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/the_servers_drunken_conundrum/C8/L8/

Montana also has a "Social host liability statute" that imposes liability on social hosts as a result of their serving alcohol to persons or minors. This is typically prosecuted when the "host" provides alcohol to people who are clearly intoxicated or minors who then are involved in crashes or other accidents that cause death or major injury. This tends to be applied to private individuals who serve alcohol in a non-commercial venue, like parents that throw a kegger for their teenagers.

The same info is on the MADD website: http://www.madd.org/Drunk-Driving/Drunk-Driving/laws/law.aspx?law=41