David W. Icheland and Bryce L. Friedman of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have a new paper (PDF) for the Washington Legal Foundation on the fading prospects for lawsuits seeking to impose product liability on alcoholic beverage makers on the theory that the companies' advertising encourages underage drinking and thus leads to auto accidents and other harms. "Two appellate courts have now joined the seven trial courts" to have ruled against such theories. Earlier: Overlawyered here, here, here, here, etc.