Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: alcohol consumption at staff picnic

A company picnic is not the same as a bar, wherein the establishment has a positive duty to not serve anyone to the point of inebriation. If, however, management encourages excessive drinking at a company picnic, or even doesn't discourage it, or a tipsy employee from driving, it is possible that an aggressive attorney could include the employer in an action against the employee. I don't, however, think short of unusual circumstances, the law would support such a suit.