Features

• Dram shop laws apply to bars, liquor stores and other businesses that serve alcoholic beverages. A business can be held liable for the damages caused by an intoxicated person under certain circumstances.
  
  

Liability

• Most dram shop laws hold a business liable if they knowingly sell alcohol to a person that is intoxicated. They are also liable if they sell alcohol to minors. The purpose of a dram shop law is to protect the public from individuals that should not be drinking.
  
  

Time Frame

• In Arizona, the statute of limitations on a dram shop lawsuit is relatively short. A lawsuit must usually be filed against the business that provided the alcohol within one year of the time of injury.
  
  

Exceptions

• The statute of limitations is tolled if the injured party is mentally disabled or is a minor. In the case of a mental disability, the statute starts to run at the time the disability ceases. For a minor, the statute begins to run on their 18th birthday.