A patron injures himself after becoming intoxicated. Why might the alcohol server be held liable?

In the context of this situation, a server might be held liable for general negligence because they have a duty of care to their patrons. This means they are obligated to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of those they serve. If a patron becomes intoxicated to the point of injury, and the server did not take appropriate actions to prevent this situation—such as monitoring the patron’s alcohol consumption or refusing to serve them more—then the server may be considered negligent.

General negligence encompasses failing to act in a way that a reasonable person would in the same situation, which includes recognizing when a patron is over-intoxicated and managing their service accordingly. This concept aligns well with the responsibilities of alcohol servers to promote safety and prevent harm that could arise from excessive drinking.

Other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not specifically address the server's responsibility in this case as directly as general negligence does. For instance, over-serving a patron would be a specific instance of negligence but does not encompass other potential failures. This focus on overall care and responsibility helps clarify the server’s role in protecting patrons from harm.