Host Liquor Liability Insurance for Special Events

Host liquor liability insurance policies cover special event liquor liability for businesses that elect to serve alcohol to their employees, prospects and customers. Host liquor liability insurance is also needed by people and businesses serving or providing alcoholic beverages to customers or guests or employees for a fee or for free.

• Link to Application for The Main Event ™ - Special Event Liability from United States Liability Insurance Group which is a Berkshire Hathaway Company

In many states, the manager or owner and the company may be liable for bodily injury and physical damage claims caused by people you served alcohol to that had too much to drink. In many cases, your company has insufficient host liquor liability insurance or worse, no coverage. Before you serve, it pays to know what is and is not covered related to host liquor liability.

Consider the following options to limit your host liquor liability exposure and insurance expense. Many companies take a hard line and refuse to have alcohol served at company functions on or off company property. Some compromise by restricting on-premises alcohol consumption but for off site events they ensure that adequate host liquor liability insurance is in place.

If a vendor is serving to alcohol, they make sure to ask if their insurance covers their company or have the vendor add their company as an additional insured for the event. Many companies restrict non-employees from company funtions where alcohol is served because of the risk of serving non-employees that are not 21 years old. Creative approaches include designating people to monitor soberness and make sure that they get safe transportation home even if the company pays for it. A cash bar or ticket system is a good way to restrict the flow.

In fact, the best way to limit host liquor liability exposure is to make is tough for the guests to get intoxicated at all.  Options include hiring fewer bartenders, limiting the length of the event, and serving drinks rather than self-serve. Make the drinks expensive while serving lots of free food. Provide a wide range of no-alcohol and low-alcohol drinks. If in any doubt, check IDs. Make the bartender use a jigger and only serve alcohol at the bar while circulating non-alcoholic beverages through the crowd. Close the bar early, with no notice, before the event ends.

Serve alcohol responsibly and protect yourself and your stakeholders.
Host liquor liability insurance is needed to prevent horrific situations that can result in the total loss of a business. Make sure you have the coverage you need before the event. ADCO General’s staff of underwriters and brokers will work with you so your clients get the right amount of host liquor liability insurance coverage when needed.  Please contact ADCO General for a quote or any questions you might have on host liquor liability coverage.

• Link to Application for The Main Event ™ - Special Event Liability from United States Liability Insurance Group which is a Berkshire Hathaway Company

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