Tennessee's Dram Shop Law

TENNESSEE DRAM SHOP LAW
TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED
TITLE 57 INTOXICATING LIQUORS
CHAPTER 10 ALCOHOL-RELATED INJURIES


57-10-101 Proximate cause. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the consumption of any alcoholic beverage or beer rather than the furnishing of any alcoholic beverage or beer is the proximate cause of injuries inflicted upon another by an intoxicated person. [Acts 1986, ch. 519, 1.]

57-10-102 Standard of proof. Notwithstanding the provisions of 57-10-101, no judge or jury may pronounce a judgment awarding damages to or on behalf of any party who has suffered personal injury or death against any person who has sold any alcoholic beverage or beer, unless such jury of twelve (12) persons has first ascertained beyond a reasonable doubt that the sale by such person of the alcoholic beverage or beer was the proximate cause of the personal injury or death sustained and that such person:

(1) Sold the alcoholic beverage or beer to a person known to be under the age of twenty-one (21) years and such person caused the personal injury or death as the direct result of the consumption of the alcoholic beverage or beer so sold; or

(2) Sold the alcoholic beverage or beer to visibly intoxicated person and such person caused the personal injury or death as the direct result of the consumption of the alcoholic beverage or beer so sold. [Acts 1986, ch. 519, 2; Acts 2009,  ch. 492.]