Response to MADD SC
When a media outlet contacts one of our team to speak “on the record” about the rising insurance rates for liquor liability laws and how those rates affect South Carolina’s small businesses, our first instinct is to ask, “Where and when?” Those opportunities have arisen more than a few times since we began our campaign in mid-April. For each, we are grateful. Because of TV news, radio, print/online platforms, podcasts, and social media, more SC citizens are beginning to understand how this issue affects the entire state and will continue to worsen unless we take action. But so many still don’t know.
A prime example appeared in a story aired on WSPA 7News on September 13. At the end of the report, Steven Burritt, the executive director of MADD SC, said, “We think it’s wonderful that South Carolina is reflecting that the one person who is not going to lose out in this are victims and that’s what people are trying to change and we think that’s shameful…”
That soundbite leads people to believe that we, the SC Venue Crisis team, and anyone lobbying for more balanced liability laws and lawsuit reform are trying to take money away from the victims. That is certainly not the case.
Some people hear the word “liquor” and see us holding town hall meetings in bars across the state and automatically think the worst of us and our cause.
They don’t know that we’ve submitted recommendations to Rep. Stewart Jones to make laws tougher on drunk drivers and kinder to small businesses, including longer license suspensions for convicted DUI-related cases and mandatory responsible server training.
They don’t know that we’ve seen security camera footage of people mixing drinks in the back of their cars immediately before getting behind the wheel.
They don’t know how often bartenders and business owners tell people they’re “cut off,” and strongly suggest calling an Uber or help them find a ride home.
They don’t know that several of the venues we’ve been in contact with have stopped serving alcohol at least one hour before closing to give people time to get a ride home and welcome them to use a breathalyzer to be sure they’re blood alcohol content is below the state legal limit.
They don’t know that plaintiff attorneys take an average of 40% of the accident victim’s awarded payout.
They don’t know that we stand with the victims.
We believe the victims should be well compensated, not by the establishment that sold the alcohol, but by the drunk driver and that driver’s insurance provider.
We believe some lawyer legislators in South Carolina’s statehouse have created ways to benefit from accident victims while punishing small businesses just to pad their own pockets.
Of course, everyone has their perspective. But, we would like each and every one of them to know that we agree with Mr. Burritt and MADD SC on this…
“The last group of people who should ever have to be the solution on how this problem is fixed, should never be the people who have been innocently and violently injured or lost a loved one. That cannot be accepted in our eyes in any way, shape or form.”
Steven Burritt, MADD SC
We are striving for a solution that will benefit the victims, small businesses, and South Carolina.
Watch the WSPA 7News story for the full report.
SC Venue Crisis 
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