South Carolina Saloon Shutters Amid Liquor Liability Law Pressures

The Blind Horse Saloon, a renowned country music venue in Greenville, South Carolina, has abruptly closed after nearly three decades of operation. The venue, which has hosted prominent country music artists like HARDY, Flatland Cavalry, and Chase Matthew, cited the financial strain imposed by South Carolina’s liquor liability insurance requirements as the main reason for shutting down.

Since 2017, South Carolina has mandated that all businesses serving alcohol past 5 p.m. carry at least $1 million in liquor liability insurance, a rule that also applies to establishments serving only beer and wine. Recently, bar and restaurant owners across the state have raised concerns about unsustainable increases in insurance rates, driven by the heightened risk associated with these high insurance policies.

The Blind Horse’s closure is part of a broader trend, with other establishments, such as Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe, also shutting down due to similar pressures. Efforts to address the issue through legislative reform failed when the South Carolina Senate could not pass a bill aimed at subsidizing insurance rates before adjourning for the summer. The bill was blocked after a contentious filibuster and a narrowly failed vote.

The Blind Horse has faced several liability lawsuits over the years, including one involving a patron injured in a hit-and-run after a concert and another where a woman sued for $350,000 after being injured during a fight at the venue. Despite these challenges, the Blind Horse was known for its lively music scene and popular line dancing events, which will now move to The Foundry at Judson Mill.