Serving alcohol at your event? Here’s how to minimize your liability.
When planning a wedding or other special event, it is important to know the risks and liability that come with providing alcohol to your guests. In this post, we will take a look at some of the key points to consider when it comes to the liability of a wedding bar, and how to minimize the risk of any problems.
Liquor Liability Insurance: One of the most important things to consider when it comes to the liability of a wedding bar is to have liquor liability insurance. Your bartending service should have it and you should have it too. This type of insurance will protect you in the event that someone hurts themselves or someone else as a result of consuming alcohol at your event. This insurance will cover any legal costs, settlements or judgments arising from a lawsuit.
Responsible Service of Alcohol: It is also important to ensure that the bar staff is properly trained in the responsible service of alcohol. This means that they should be aware of the signs of excessive drinking and be able to refuse to serve a guest if necessary. Alcohol is considered a controlled substance and the service of such should be taken seriously even in the midst of a celebration.
ID Checking: Another important aspect of the liability of a wedding bar is to have a process in place for checking IDs. This will help to ensure that only guests who are of legal drinking age are served alcohol, which can help to minimize the risk of any problems arising as a result of underage drinking.
Cut-off time: Having a cut-off time for alcohol service is another important aspect to consider. This will help to ensure that guests are not over-served and that the event ends on a safe note.
Designated Drivers: Encourage guests to appoint designated drivers or to arrange for alternative transportation such as a shuttle, Uber or Lyft. This will help to minimize the risk of any problems arising as a result of drunk driving.
The liability of a wedding bar is an important aspect to consider when planning a special event. Having liquor liability insurance, hiring bar staff that is properly trained in the responsible service of alcohol, checking IDs, having a cut-off time, and encouraging designated drivers can help to minimize the risk of any problems arising and ensure that your event is a success.
