--- title: "Maryland liquor liability: tavern limits and underage social-host exposure" description: "Maryland limits off-premises tavern claims but recognizes a narrow underage social-host claim; check business policy terms separately." canonical: "https://spot.insure/coverage/liquor-liability/maryland" page-type: "coverage-state-guide" updated-at: "2026-09-29" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/coverage/liquor-liability/maryland) # Maryland liquor liability: tavern limits and underage social-host exposure Maryland does not recognize a general claim against a tavern for off-premises harm caused by an intoxicated adult customer absent a special relationship; the Court of Appeals left on-premises liability unresolved. A separate negligence claim can arise when an adult knowingly and willfully allows underage drinking on the adult’s property, in violation of a criminal statute. The social-host exception and the commercial rule have different facts, and neither decides what your business policy covers.[^1][^2][^3] **Coverage:** [Liquor liability](/coverage/liquor-liability) · [Maryland](/coverage/states/maryland) ## 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](/coverage/liquor-liability). ## What to Watch for in Maryland ### The dram-shop limit is about off-premises harm In Warr, the Maryland Court of Appeals rejected a duty to protect the public from an intoxicated tavern patron’s off-premises conduct absent a special relationship with the patron or injured person. The court said it was not deciding liability for alcohol-related injuries on the licensed premises. If your business serves alcohol, ask the broker to identify both off-premises liquor claims and on-premises injury claims in the policy wording.[^1] ### Maryland recognizes a narrow social-host claim involving minors In Kiriakos, the Court of Appeals allowed a negligence claim where an adult knowingly and willfully permitted underage drinking on the adult’s property in violation of Criminal Law §10-117(b), and the drinking substantially contributed to injury to the minor or a third party. The statute’s immediate-family/residence and religious-ceremony exceptions matter; Kiriakos also held that the protected underage drinker’s contributory negligence is not a defense to this host claim. This is not the commercial tavern rule in Warr.[^3][^2] ### Neither liability rule decides which policy pays Warr and Kiriakos decide when a third party may have a tort claim; they do not define an insurance contract. Ask for the actual general-liability alcohol exclusion, any host-liquor wording, and the liquor-liability form’s insured operations, locations, limits, and exclusions. Include private events, catered service, retail sales, and alcohol served by employees in the request if they apply to your business.[^1][^3] ## Who Regulates Insurance in Maryland **Maryland Insurance Administration.** The Maryland Insurance Administration licenses producers and insurers, reviews rates and forms, and investigates complaints about insurance companies and producers. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue.[^4][^5][^6] - [Regulator website](https://insurance.maryland.gov/) - [License lookup](https://www.apps.insurance.maryland.gov/CompanyProducerInfo/) - [File a complaint](https://insurance.maryland.gov/consumer/pages/fileacomplaint.aspx) - Phone: 800-492-6116 ### Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office **Reported tax rate:** 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums when Maryland is the insured's home state; excludes risks of Maryland and its political subdivisions When Maryland is the insured's home state, the tax is 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums, except insurance of risks of the State or a political subdivision. For policies effective on or after July 21, 2011, Maryland taxes the entire premium and the broker must charge the tax in addition to premium. Maryland's property and casualty guaranty corporation excludes surplus-lines policies.[^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 that the product is available in Maryland; [check the regulator’s license lookup](https://www.apps.insurance.maryland.gov/CompanyProducerInfo/) and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote. - [Corgi](/insurance-providers/corgi) — **Entity:** Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; **role:** Insurance producer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Corgi’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 Maryland 1. Does the quoted liquor-liability form cover injuries on the licensed premises, off-site events, or both, and which legal entities and employees are insured? 2. Does the general-liability policy exclude alcohol-related injury, and does its host-liquor wording apply when selling, serving, or sponsoring alcohol is part of your business? 3. What local license conditions apply to this exact license class, and what certificate or policy evidence must the licensing authority receive? ## Liquor Liability in Maryland: FAQ ### Does the Maryland tavern ruling also decide injuries inside a bar? No. Warr concerned off-premises harm caused by an intoxicated patron and expressly reserved the effect of alcohol service on premises-liability claims. Do not apply its holding to every alcohol-related injury.[^1] ### Can a minor’s own drinking automatically defeat a Maryland social-host claim? No. Kiriakos held that, in a claim by or for the protected underage person against a host who violated §10-117(b), the minor’s contributory negligence is not a defense. The plaintiff still must connect the host’s knowing and willful conduct to the injury.[^3][^2] ### Does §10-117 or Kiriakos say a business’s policy covers alcohol claims? No. Section 10-117 sets a furnishing prohibition and Kiriakos addresses a limited civil duty for underage social hosting. Neither establishes the terms of a business’s general-liability, host-liquor, or liquor-liability policy.[^2][^3] ## Liquor Liability in Other States - [Alabama](/coverage/liquor-liability/alabama) - [Alaska](/coverage/liquor-liability/alaska) - [Arizona](/coverage/liquor-liability/arizona) - [Arkansas](/coverage/liquor-liability/arkansas) - [California](/coverage/liquor-liability/california) - [Colorado](/coverage/liquor-liability/colorado) - [Connecticut](/coverage/liquor-liability/connecticut) - [Delaware](/coverage/liquor-liability/delaware) - [District of Columbia](/coverage/liquor-liability/district-of-columbia) - [Florida](/coverage/liquor-liability/florida) - [Georgia](/coverage/liquor-liability/georgia) - [Hawaii](/coverage/liquor-liability/hawaii) - [Idaho](/coverage/liquor-liability/idaho) - [Illinois](/coverage/liquor-liability/illinois) - [Indiana](/coverage/liquor-liability/indiana) - [Iowa](/coverage/liquor-liability/iowa) - [Kansas](/coverage/liquor-liability/kansas) - [Kentucky](/coverage/liquor-liability/kentucky) - [Louisiana](/coverage/liquor-liability/louisiana) - [Maine](/coverage/liquor-liability/maine) - [Massachusetts](/coverage/liquor-liability/massachusetts) - [Michigan](/coverage/liquor-liability/michigan) - [Minnesota](/coverage/liquor-liability/minnesota) - [Mississippi](/coverage/liquor-liability/mississippi) - [Missouri](/coverage/liquor-liability/missouri) - [Montana](/coverage/liquor-liability/montana) - [Nebraska](/coverage/liquor-liability/nebraska) - [Nevada](/coverage/liquor-liability/nevada) - [New Hampshire](/coverage/liquor-liability/new-hampshire) - [New Jersey](/coverage/liquor-liability/new-jersey) - [New Mexico](/coverage/liquor-liability/new-mexico) - [New York](/coverage/liquor-liability/new-york) - [North Carolina](/coverage/liquor-liability/north-carolina) - [North Dakota](/coverage/liquor-liability/north-dakota) - [Ohio](/coverage/liquor-liability/ohio) - [Oklahoma](/coverage/liquor-liability/oklahoma) - [Oregon](/coverage/liquor-liability/oregon) - [Pennsylvania](/coverage/liquor-liability/pennsylvania) - [Rhode Island](/coverage/liquor-liability/rhode-island) - [South Carolina](/coverage/liquor-liability/south-carolina) - [South Dakota](/coverage/liquor-liability/south-dakota) - [Tennessee](/coverage/liquor-liability/tennessee) - [Texas](/coverage/liquor-liability/texas) - [Utah](/coverage/liquor-liability/utah) - [Vermont](/coverage/liquor-liability/vermont) - [Virginia](/coverage/liquor-liability/virginia) - [Washington](/coverage/liquor-liability/washington) - [West Virginia](/coverage/liquor-liability/west-virginia) - [Wisconsin](/coverage/liquor-liability/wisconsin) - [Wyoming](/coverage/liquor-liability/wyoming) [Other Coverage in Maryland](/coverage/states/maryland) ## Sources [^1]: [Warr v. JMGM Group, LLC, No. 57, September Term 2012](https://www.mdcourts.gov/data/opinions/coa/2013/57a12.pdf) — Maryland Court of Appeals; Opinion filed July 25, 2013; syllabus, pp. 1–2; majority analysis, pp. 13–14; footnote 4, p. 2 (on-premises issue reserved). Accessed 2026-09-29. [^2]: [Maryland Criminal Law §10-117: furnishing alcohol to underage individuals](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr§ion=10-117) — Maryland General Assembly; §10-117(a)–(d), current 2026 statute text. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^3]: [Kiriakos v. Phillips, Nos. 20 and 55, September Term 2015](https://www.mdcourts.gov/data/opinions/coa/2016/20a15.pdf) — Maryland Court of Appeals; Opinion filed July 5, 2016; syllabus pp. 1–2; §10-117(b) and knowing/willful standard pp. 34–38; proximate cause and contributory-negligence rule pp. 24–27, 33. Accessed 2026-09-29. [^4]: [Maryland Insurance Administration](https://insurance.maryland.gov/) — Maryland Insurance Administration; Homepage and consumer contact. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^5]: [Insurance License Lookup](https://www.apps.insurance.maryland.gov/CompanyProducerInfo/) — Maryland Insurance Administration; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^6]: [File an Insurance Complaint](https://insurance.maryland.gov/consumer/pages/fileacomplaint.aspx) — Maryland Insurance Administration; State complaint process and contact. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^7]: [Md. Code, Insurance §3-324](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Statute_Web/gin/3-324.pdf) — Maryland General Assembly; Insurance §3-324(a)-(b), (d)-(f): government-risk exclusion; 3% of gross premiums less returns; entire-premium home-state basis from July 21, 2011, with tax charged in addition. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^8]: [Maryland Insurance Article (2026)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Statute_Web/gin/gin.pdf) — Maryland General Assembly; Insurance §9-303(5), (7): surplus-lines and unauthorized insurers excluded from property and casualty guaranty subtitle; 2026 Insurance Article PDF. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^9]: [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/) — At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21. [^10]: [Licenses and Carriers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/licenses) — Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535.. Accessed 2026-09-22. [^11]: [Insurance Producer Licenses](https://www.corgi.insure/broker-licenses) — Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^12]: [About Hiscox US Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/about-hiscox-insurance) — Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16. [^13]: [Licenses](https://www.nextinsurance.com/insurance-licenses/) — ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^14]: [Insurance Licenses by State](https://www.techinsurance.com/legal/licenses) — TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^15]: [Licenses](https://www.vouch.us/legal/licenses) — Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict.. Accessed 2026-09-15. Updated 2026-09-29. This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy). 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