Whether your special event is celebrating an
accomplishment or just for fun, most events are
happy occasions. If you are the host you’ll want to
make sure you are covered with adequate insurance
in case of an incident or accident.
policies may include Host Liquor Liability Insurance
or have it available as an add on option. This is
excellent coverage to have if you are hosting but
remember, if minors are served you are open to suits
and are in violation of the law.
If you are providing alcoholic beverages for your
guests at a house party, you will want to talk with
your insurance provider to see what coverage you
have or may need to protect for any incident or
accident that may arise. If you hire a catering
company to provide bar services you want to make
sure that they have all the necessary licensing and
insurance coverage, and that you are protected in
the event of an occurrence. Keep one thing in mind:
if a minor is served, all bets are off. You need to take
every precaution if there is alcohol at your event
to ensure it is only served and available to those 21
years of age and older. Also, you cannot charge for
liquor in any way whether that be as a drink cost,
donation or flat fee. Only a caterer specifically
licensed to sell alcohol can charge for drinks.
Most banquet facilities require that you provide proof
of insurance or, at the very least, have wording in their
contracts relating to liability and responsibility for the
guests and venue. Make sure you carefully read the
agreements before signing and talk to your insurance
agent or attorney with any questions or concerns you
may have.
If you are planning a company event or party
for your business, oftentimes business insurance
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Beyond the liability insurances above, there are
specialty insurances that can be purchased for almost
anything - If a storm or fire destroys your banquet
facility, there is an unexpected medical emergency, a
bride or groom gets cold feet, a rain storm ruins an
outdoor event or a snowstorm prohibits travel, a
service provider goes out of business, the options are
endless. Don’t let a good party go bad; talk to your
insurance agent to make sure you are covered
regardless of the event.