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I was chatting with a guy running a bakery/board game store. He was saying how hard the finances were (the store eventually folded), and he mentioned the price

I was chatting with a guy running a bakery/board game store. He was saying how hard the finances were (the store eventually folded), and he mentioned the price of alcohol insurance. The store didn't serve alcohol, so I asked why he had it. He said that (at least in Pennsylvania), if a visibly intoxicated customer left his store and got into an accident, he could be sued. Maybe not successfully, but it wouldn't necessarily be thrown out by the judge. It's why there are so many stores with BYOB around me: if they have to get insured anyways, might as well invite the business.

lotsofpulp 2y ago
The US has an enormous problem with the costs of litigation gumming up society’s gears. From healthcare to police to even just having a neighbor’s kid get injured in your backyard. Anyone that has an option to earn good W-2 income would need a huge carrot to incentivize them to forego that low liability lifestyle and instead opt to start their own business, especially one where you invite people into your premises. Until you are making good money (and this can take 10+ years) and can afford lawyers, you are at the mercy of the legal system.