If a bar serves a person who then injures another patron after becoming intoxicated, will the bar's commercial general liability policy cover the injury caused by the intoxicated customer?

In the context of a bar serving alcohol, commercial general liability (CGL) policies typically include exclusions for injuries or damages that arise from the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages. This means that if a bar serves a customer alcohol and that customer subsequently causes an injury to another person as a result of their intoxication, the CGL policy would not cover the injuries resulting from that incident.

The rationale behind this exclusion is tied to the legal and regulatory environment surrounding the sale of alcohol, which often imposes specific responsibilities on establishments serving alcoholic drinks. Bars and similar establishments can be held liable for injuries that occur due to the over-serving of alcohol, which is known as “dram shop liability.” Therefore, while the CGL policy generally covers a wide range of liability claims, incidents linked to the service of alcohol typically fall outside its coverage scope.

Understanding this specific exclusion is critical for bar owners and operators to ensure they have the appropriate coverage in place — such as liquor liability insurance — that addresses the unique risks associated with serving alcohol. This is why the correct answer is that the bar's CGL policy would not cover the injury caused by the intoxicated customer, aligning with standard policy conditions and legal liabilities in many jurisdictions.