Another patron offers to 'buy a drink' for someone who has just been cut off for intoxication. May the server lawfully serve the buy-back drink?
Explanation
The §25602 violation turns on who consumes, not who pays. Serving a third party's buy-back to a cut-off patron is the same misdemeanor as serving them directly, because the statute prohibits 'sale, furnishing, or giving' to the obviously intoxicated person regardless of source of funds. The server should politely refuse the buy-back, briefly explain the situation to the well-meaning friend, and offer water, coffee, or non-alcoholic options instead. The drink type (d) does not matter — wine is still alcohol — and liability waivers (c) cannot waive criminal statutes.
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