Liquor Liability in Connecticut

Connecticut General Statutes §30-102 allows an injured third party to seek damages when a seller sells liquor to an intoxicated person who then causes injury, subject to written notice within 120 days (180 days for death or incapacity), a one-year filing period, and $250,000 per injured person and in aggregate. It bars a negligence claim for sale to an adult. ^1,²

What Is Liquor Liability?

Liquor liability can cover claims tied to your business selling, serving or furnishing alcohol. If you run a bar, restaurant or event where you provide drinks, check how the quote treats injuries, property damage and occasional service. Read the national Liquor liability guide.

What to Watch for in Connecticut

The statutory trigger is a sale to someone already intoxicated
Section 30-102 addresses a seller who sells liquor to an intoxicated purchaser, who then injures another because of that intoxication; it is not textually a rule that every later intoxication creates a claim. ¹
Notice and suit deadlines are short
Written notice must identify the sale and injury and is due within 120 days, or 180 days if an aggrieved person dies or is incapacitated; suit is due within one year. The statutory ceiling is $250,000 per injured person and $250,000 total. ¹
The Dram Shop Act does not set an insurance minimum
Section 30-102 sets a civil cause of action, deadlines, and damages limits but does not itself state an insurance minimum; separately check any permit, lease, or event-contract condition and the policy wording. ¹

Who Regulates Insurance in Connecticut

Connecticut Insurance Department

The Connecticut Insurance Department licenses insurance producers and companies, oversees insurers and regulated insurance activity, and investigates insurance complaints. Its complaint and license-search services let you raise an issue or check an insurance professional or company. ^3,^4,⁵

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 4% of gross premium when Connecticut is the home state When Connecticut is the insured’s home state, surplus-lines tax is 4% of gross premium; certain state and local government insureds are exempt, and broker or policy fees are not part of the premium-tax base. Connecticut’s required notice says these policies are outside the state guaranty association. Most placements require three declinations or an export-list qualification; an exempt commercial purchaser may qualify for the federal § 8205 search exception after disclosure and a written request. ^6,^7,⁸

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Liquor liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Connecticut. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹¹

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Connecticut

Does the policy respond to allegations about selling to a person who was already intoxicated, and how does it define covered alcohol service?
What reporting and cooperation steps apply when an incident could trigger Connecticut’s 120-day or 180-day notice period?
Does the quote’s limit and defense expense structure meet a lease, event contract, or permit condition that applies to this specific operation?