objective of drawing normative conclusions in this domain, whilst recognising, as a preliminary premise, the general consensus on the necessity of reinforcing the duty to refrain from serving visibly intoxicated individuals, in conjunction with broader public health and safety policies. Portugal, in common with other European and Western jurisdictions, is characterised by a deeply ingrained culture of alcohol consumption, particularly within bars and restaurants. Such a socio-cultural context inevitably raises significant questions of civil liability, especially in circumstances where excessive consumption of alcohol gives rise to road traffic accidents, urban violence, domestic abuse, or damage to third parties. The central legal issue, therefore, is whether an establishment that serves alcohol in excess may, or indeed should, be held liable for the harms identified above. II. LEGAL FRAMEWORK The legal framework of the issue under examination necessarily commences with consideration of the concept of civil liability, as enshrined in Articles 483 et seq. of the Portuguese Civil Code, as well as in Law no. 50/2013 of 24 July, which sets out the legal regime for the prevention and control of alcohol consumption and, inter alia, prohibits the sale of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age and establishes limits on the availability of alcoholic beverages. In Portugal, additional legislation exists that directly or indirectly addresses the supply and consumption of alcohol; however, it generally places greater emphasis on the conduct of the consumer rather than that of the supplier. A relevant example is Law no. 37/2007 of 14 August (Law on Alcohol and Road Safety), which, although primarily concerned with drivers, may nevertheless pave the way for the imputation of liability to the supplier who has contributed to the state of intoxication. Finally, reference should also be made to the Consumer Protection Act (Law no. 24/96 of 31 July) which, although broader in scope, imposes a duty to safeguard the health and safety of consumers. At the European level, regulations are even more limited. One may identify Directive 2005/29/EC (Unfair Commercial Practices Directive), which restricts aggressive forms of alcohol marketing, while the Court of Justice of the European Union has progressively strengthened consumer protection in high-risk sectors— a trend that may underpin the imposition of stricter monitoring obligations on establishments supplying alcoholic beverages in the future. 180 JOÃO ALMEIDA VIDAL
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