Life insurance companies frequently deny claims when alcohol is found in the insured’s system. Sometimes they do this even when alcohol had nothing to do with the death.
Many policies contain alcohol related exclusions, and insurers use them aggressively. In some cases, they stretch these clauses far beyond what the policy or the law actually allows.
The result is that grieving families are told the claim is denied simply because alcohol was present, not because it actually caused anything.
That is often wrong.
How Alcohol Exclusions Are Supposed to Work
Alcohol exclusions were originally meant to prevent payouts in cases involving truly reckless behavior, such as drunk driving or operating dangerous machinery while intoxicated.
Over time, many insurers turned these clauses into something much broader.
Some policies now use vague language that allows the company to deny a claim whenever alcohol is detected, even if:
The death was caused by someone else
The death was caused by a medical event
The accident had nothing to do with impairment
The alcohol level was low or borderline
Or the alcohol was not a contributing factor at all
What insurers want families to believe is simple.
If alcohol is in the system, the claim is denied.
That is not how the law works in many situations.
The History of Alcohol Exclusion Laws
For many years, a large number of states allowed insurers to deny claims whenever alcohol was involved in any way.
By around 2008, at least 29 states had laws that permitted this practice.
Because of public outrage and medical ethics concerns, many states have since limited or repealed these rules. But the language still appears in many life insurance policies, and insurers still rely on it whenever they think they can get away with it.
Common Ways Insurers Use Alcohol to Deny Claims
We regularly see alcohol used as an excuse to deny claims in several situations.
Alleged Alcoholism or Misrepresentation
If the insured had a history of alcohol use or dependency and did not disclose it on the application, insurers may claim misrepresentation, especially if the death happens during the contestability period.
Even here, the insurer still has to prove:
The insured actually knew about the condition
The question was asked clearly
And the omission was material and intentional
Using Alcohol to Suggest Suicide or Self Harm
If alcohol is present and the death is unclear, insurers often try to suggest:
The death was intentional
The insured acted recklessly
Or the insured meant to harm themselves
They then try to combine the alcohol exclusion with the suicide or self inflicted injury exclusion.
This is a very common tactic, and it is often based on speculation, not proof.
Denying Claims Even When Alcohol Did Not Cause the Death
This is the most abusive use of alcohol exclusions.
We see cases where:
Someone is killed by another driver
Someone dies because of equipment failure
Someone dies from a medical emergency
Or someone dies in a completely unrelated accident
But because toxicology shows alcohol in the system, the insurer denies the claim anyway.
Unless the policy clearly says that any trace of alcohol voids coverage regardless of cause, these denials are often legally defective.
The High BAC Trap
Insurance companies love to focus on blood alcohol content numbers.
We often see them:
Rely on blood tests taken hours after death
Ignore how post death changes can affect results
Claim someone was impaired even if the level was below the legal limit
Or assume that any number over 0.00 proves causation
A high BAC does not automatically mean:
The person caused the accident
The person was impaired
Or the person’s death falls under an exclusion
Causation still matters in many policies and many states.
How Lawyers Beat Alcohol Exclusion Denials
These cases are won by focusing on:
The exact wording of the policy
The real medical cause of death
The timeline of events
And the quality of the insurer’s investigation
We often find that:
The exclusion does not say what the insurer claims it says
The insurer cannot prove alcohol actually caused the death
The toxicology evidence is weak or misleading
Or the policy language is vague and must be interpreted in favor of the beneficiary
Ambiguous insurance language is supposed to be interpreted against the insurance company, not in its favor.
Alcohol Exclusions Are One of the Most Abused Tools in Claim Denials
Insurance companies know:
Alcohol carries stigma
Families feel uncomfortable challenging these cases
Many people assume the insurer must be right
So they deny first and see if anyone fights back.
Many families walk away from large policies that should have been paid.
When You Should Talk to a Life Insurance Lawyer
You should get legal help if:
The denial letter mentions alcohol or BAC
The death was accidental or unclear
The alcohol did not actually cause the death
The insurer is relying on toxicology alone
Or the reasoning in the denial letter feels stretched or unfair
These cases are very technical and very winnable when handled correctly.
Do Not Let an Alcohol Exclusion Take Away Your Benefits
Our firm focuses exclusively on denied life insurance claims, including cases involving alcohol and drug exclusions.
We know how often these denials are based on weak evidence, misread policies, and aggressive bad faith tactics.
We offer free consultations and handle these cases on a contingency basis. You do not pay anything unless we recover money for you.
If your life insurance claim was denied because of alcohol or a high BAC, contact us. There is a very real chance the insurance company is wrong.