Opinion ID: 523618
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Bartender

Text: 16 Under the FTCA the United States is liable in tort in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances. 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2674. Under California law [n]o person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away, any alcoholic beverage ... shall be civilly liable to any injured person ... for injuries inflicted on that person as a result of intoxication by the consumer of such alcoholic beverage. Cal.Bus. & Prof.Code Sec. 25602(b). The California Supreme Court has read this statute to mean that a private individual enjoys a sweeping immunity from liability for serving or providing alcoholic beverages. Strang v. Cabrol, 37 Cal.3d 720, 724, 209 Cal.Rptr. 347, 350, 691 P.2d 1013, 1016 (1984). 17 We agree with the district court that the United States could not be held liable for its employee's providing alcohol to Gorman because a private individual in California under the dramshop law would incur no liability for such conduct.