Your establishment offers a shuttle service for patrons. A visibly intoxicated patron who has been cut off earlier insists on driving themselves home, despite your offer of the shuttle. What is your legal and ethical responsibility?

Question: Your establishment offers a shuttle service for patrons. A visibly intoxicated patron who has been cut off earlier insists on driving themselves home, despite your offer of the shuttle. What is your legal and ethical responsibility?

Answer options:

• Let them drive, as you have offered an alternative, and their decision is ultimately their own responsibility. ✅ Attempt to delay them and contact the police, informing them of a potential impaired driver.
• Insist they take the shuttle service, physically preventing them from accessing their vehicle if necessary.
• Inform your manager, but take no further action yourself beyond offering the shuttle.

Correct answer: Attempt to delay them and contact the police, informing them of a potential impaired driver.

Explanation: Licensees and their staff have a legal and ethical duty of care to prevent harm resulting from overservice, which extends to preventing impaired driving if they have reason to believe a patron is intoxicated and intends to drive. Offering a shuttle is good practice, but if the patron refuses and insists on driving while impaired, you have a responsibility to try and delay them and notify law enforcement to prevent impaired driving. Physically restraining a patron carries its own legal risks. Informing a manager is helpful, but direct action to prevent impaired driving is crucial.