Most parents want to do the right thing, but when it comes to alcohol and teenagers, parents may find themselves in a gray area. For example, your child may ask if they can have a glass of wine at dinner, or maybe there is a birthday party at your house, and you wonder if it’s okay to let your teen have a beer while you’re there to supervise.
South Carolina’s rules about underage drinking can be confusing, especially if you’ve heard different things over the years. The answer to underage drinking at home isn’t simple. The law has specific exceptions where children are allowed to consume alcohol, but if you don’t know them, you could accidentally put yourself or your child in trouble.
Under South Carolina’s drinking laws, people under the age of 21 cannot drink alcohol. But the law makes a few exceptions. These exceptions include situations where parents allow their children to drink at home or when alcohol is part of a religious ceremony or purpose, if the alcoholic liquors were lawfully purchased. A Greenville liquor liability lawyer explains these laws below.
Understanding South Carolina’s Social Host Liability Law
When it comes to underage drinking, South Carolina takes the issue seriously. If you host a gathering at your home and provide alcohol to minors, or even allow them to drink while under your roof, you can be held responsible for any potential repercussions.
The law isn’t limited to situations where a parent hands a drink directly to a teenager. If a minor gets access to alcohol at your home and you knew or reasonably should have known it was happening, you could still face consequences.
The idea behind the law is simple: Adults are expected to set boundaries, not create opportunities for harm. When underage drinking leads to accidents, injuries, or worse, the person who provided or permitted the alcohol can be held accountable.
These cases often arise after car accidents caused by drunk driving, but liability doesn’t end there. If a teenager leaves your home intoxicated and gets into a fight, damages property, or causes injury in any way, you could find yourself facing a lawsuit.
Is It Legal to Drink Under 21 With Parents in South Carolina?
Parents may provide alcohol to their children inside their home. In addition, underage drinking may be permitted in the context of religious ceremonies (such as communion) and for students who are 18 or older and enrolled in higher-education culinary programs, where alcohol may be used for cooking instruction.
Similarly, minors who are at least 18 and working in restaurants or similar establishments may legally serve or remove alcoholic beverages as part of their employment.
While South Carolina law does allow narrow exceptions for parents and children at home, the state’s broader stance on underage drinking is strict. Even with these exceptions, parents should be cautious. What may feel like a safe, family-controlled environment can still lead to unintended consequences if the alcohol use extends beyond the home or results in an accident.
How a Greenville Liquor Liability Lawyer Can Help
If you have been affected by a minor who was provided alcohol by their parents or other adults, here are some of the ways that a Greenville liquor liability lawyer can help:
- Investigating the Incident: We gather all the details about what happened. This investigation includes reviewing police reports, witness statements, and security footage if available. We look for proof that alcohol was provided to a minor.
- Collecting Evidence: We collect and use witness statements, expert testimony, and other evidence to strengthen your case. If alcohol was provided by an adult to a minor, we work to prove it.
- Establishing Liability: Sometimes, it’s not immediately obvious who was responsible for the accident, and so we take time to determine who is responsible. Whether the alcohol came from a bar, store, parent, or social host, we prove that they are responsible under the law for injuries caused by the sale or provision of alcohol to minors.
- Working with Experts: We consult toxicologists, accident reconstruction experts, and law enforcement professionals to confirm how a minor’s consumption of alcohol contributed to the harm that you’ve suffered.
- Calculating Damages: We gather and calculate medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Our goal is to obtain full compensation for your losses.
- Negotiating and Litigating: Many cases are settled out of court. We will negotiate to get the best outcome for you. If the other side won’t fairly resolve your case, then we’re fully prepared to take your case to trial.
Contact Our Greenville Liquor Liability Lawyers Today
Although underage drinking laws in Greenville can be complicated, the lawyers at David R. Price, Jr., P.A., have extensive experience representing people who have been injured by drunk drivers, including minors. If you have been injured as a result of underage drinking, contact us today.
We are here to answer your questions, explain your options, and provide the strong legal guidance you need during a difficult time. Contact us at 864-271-2636 or visit our office in Greenville, SC (serving zip code areas 29601, 29602, 29605, 29606, 29607, 29609, 29611, 29612, 29614, 29615, 29616, and more) to request a consultation and discuss how we can assist with your case.