A Woman Who Drank 14 Shots of Tequila on a Cruise Wins $250,000 in Court for Excessive Service (2 photos + 1 video)

A cruise ship passenger on an all-inclusive package suffered a medical emergency after consuming large amounts of alcohol during the trip. She reported being served 14 shots of tequila in a short period of time, after which she began to feel unwell.





In January 2024, 45-year-old nurse Diana Sanders was on an all-inclusive vacation on the Carnival Radiance cruise ship. Over nine hours, the staff poured the woman at least 14 shots of tequila, continuing to give her alcohol even when she was visibly intoxicated.

After Sanders left one of the ship's bars, she fell and hit her head. She was found unconscious in a crew-only area. Medics diagnosed the passenger with a concussion, headaches, back injuries, and bruises.

Now, a Miami jury has ruled in favor of the nurse, finding the company negligent. The victim's attorney, Spencer Aronfeld, said: "Litigating a corporate giant like Carnival is challenging, and I have great respect for my client's fortitude. This case highlights the dangers of all-inclusive alcohol packages: they encourage excessive consumption and force poorly paid staff to prioritize tips over safety."



During the trial, Aronfeld argued that the bartenders on the ship should have stopped serving Sanders as soon as it became apparent she was intoxicated. The lawyer also claimed that Carnival "deliberately designs its ships to have alcohol outlets in literally every corner of the ship" to maximize profits.

In a media comment, Aronfeld noted: "Proving excessive alcohol service is often difficult because many believe a person should be held fully responsible for how much they drink. Diana admitted personal liability. However, the main issue was that Carnival refused to admit any corporate liability for continuing to serve a person who was clearly intoxicated."

Carnival Cruise Line stated that it respectfully disagrees with the verdict and believes there are grounds for a new trial and appeal. The company's lawyers argued that there was no evidence that Sanders "was unsteady, fell asleep at the bar, slurred her speech, or showed any other signs of intoxication."