California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Certification Practice Exam

A licensee can indeed be held liable for incidents occurring off-premises if it can be demonstrated that actions taken by the licensee, such as over-serving patrons, contributed to those incidents. This principle is grounded in the idea that the responsible serving of alcohol is expected to extend beyond the premises of the establishment. When a licensee fails in their duty of care by over-serving a patron, who then causes harm to themselves or others after leaving the premises, the licensee may share in the liability for any resulting damages or incidents.

In California, the law recognizes that establishments have a responsibility not just for what happens within their walls but also for the consequences of their service beyond those walls. Thus, if a patron involved in an off-premises incident is found to have been overserved, the licensee can be held accountable for contributing to that situation.