Winters v. Silver Fox Bar

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

MOON, J.

The United States District Court for the District of Hawaii certified the following question to this court:

Whether the sale of liquor to a minor (in violation of Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 281-78(a)(2)(A) [(1985 & Supp. 1989)]) 1 who subsequently becomes drunk and sustains injury precludes the minor (or the estate and survivors) from suing the commercial liquor supplier.

On December 8,1989, this court remanded the question to the District Court for clarification of the term “minor.” On April 12, 1990, the District Court responded that “minor” for purposes of this…