Holiday Party Etiquette: A Good Host Is a Responsible Host When It Comes To Serving Alcohol (2024)

HOMEOWNERS CAN BE SUBJECT TO SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY LAWS WHEN SERVING LIQUOR

ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The holiday season means party time for many people. But hosts who serve alcohol should take steps to limit their liquor liability and make sure they have the proper insurance, according to the New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA).

Social host liability, the legal term for the criminal and civil responsibility of a person who furnishes liquor to a guest, can have a serious impact on party throwers. Social host liability, also known as "Dram Shop Liability" laws vary widely from state to state, but 43 states including New York have them on the books. Most of these laws also offer an injured person, such as the victim of a drunk driver, a method to sue the person who served the alcohol. There are circ*mstances under these laws where criminal charges may also apply. And even if the Dram Shop Act does not apply, a host can still be civilly liable under ordinary negligence standards.

"Because you can be held legally responsible for your guests' actions after they leave your party, hosts need to be particularly careful," said Ellen Melchionni, president of the NYIA. "While a social host is not liable for injuries sustained by the drunken guest (as they are also negligent), the host can be held liable for third parties, and may even be liable for passengers of the guest who have been injured in their car."

Before planning a party in your home, it is important to speak with your insurance agent or company representative about your homeowners coverage and any exclusions, conditions or limitations your policy might have for this kind of risk. Homeowners insurance usually provides some liquor liability coverage, but it is typically limited to $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the policy, which might not be enough.

Whether you are hanging out with a small group of friends for co*cktails or throwing a big family bash, remember that a good host is a responsible host, and needs to take steps to ensure guests get home safely if they have been drinking.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Guests

If you plan to serve alcohol at a holiday party the NYIA offers the following tips to promote safe alcohol consumption and reduce your social host liability exposure:

  • Make sure you understand your state laws. Before sending out party invitations, familiarize yourself with your state's social host liability laws. These laws vary widely from state to state. Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host's premises. Some extend the host's liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.
  • Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help minimize liquor liability risks.
  • Hire a professional bartender. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and are better able to limit consumption by partygoers.
  • Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
  • Be a responsible host/hostess. Limit your own alcohol intake so that you will be better able to judge your guests' sobriety.
  • Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
  • Do not pressure guests to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty. And never serve alcohol to guests who are visibly intoxicated.
  • Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening. Switch to coffee, tea and soft drinks.
  • If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab, arrange a ride with a sober guest or have them sleep at your home.
  • Encourage all your guests to wear seatbelts as they drive home. Studies show that seatbelts save lives.

The New York Insurance Association (NYIA®) is a state trade association that has represented the property and casualty insurance industry for more than 125 years. For more information on NYIA, visit www.nyia.org.

SOURCE New York Insurance Association

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Holiday Party Etiquette: A Good Host Is a Responsible Host When It Comes To Serving Alcohol (2024)

FAQs

Holiday Party Etiquette: A Good Host Is a Responsible Host When It Comes To Serving Alcohol? ›

Do not pressure guests to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty. And never serve alcohol to guests who are visibly intoxicated.

What is the responsibility of a host with drinking guests? ›

Social hosts can be legally liable if they recklessly encourage a guest to continue drinking when it is clear they are drunk. Most states also place liability on social hosts in situations where they are serving alcohol to a minor or where the host should have recognized and stopped serving an intoxicated guest.

What can you do as a good host if alcohol is served? ›

When you are the host
  • When guests arrive, check to make sure everyone has a sober driver to get them home after the party.
  • Prepare your favorite holiday mocktail recipes, and offer plenty of alcohol-free drinks. ...
  • Stop serving alcohol before the party is scheduled to end.

What is a responsible party host serves? ›

Serve only coffee, tea and non? alcoholic beverages as the party comes to a close. As the host or hostess, it is your responsibility to help your guests get home safely, so limit the amount of alcohol served toward the end of the party as guests prepare to leave or go home.

What should a good host do for a drinking driver? ›

Good hosts should not let their drunk friends drive; they should offer them a place to stay for the night or to sit down for a while; hosts can be sued if a guest gets into an accident after leaving their house with a DUI.

What are your responsibilities as a host? ›

What does a Host or Hostess do? A Host or Hostess makes sure that their guests feel welcomed, cared for, and valued. They create a warm and welcoming environment for patrons from the moment they enter the establishment. Hosts or Hostesses typically provide menus, take names for reservations and answer the phone.

Can a server be held responsible for serving an intoxicated guest? ›

Servers can be held criminally liable for violating state, county, or municipal alcohol service laws, particularly for serving someone under 21 years of age or serving someone who is intoxicated. Civil liability: Being held responsible for payment of damages for injuring a person.

What are the requirements of a responsible host? ›

Host responsibility is based on six key concepts, a responsible host:
  • Prevents intoxication.
  • Does not serve alcohol to minors.
  • Provides and actively promotes low-alcohol and non-alcoholic alternatives.
  • Provides and actively promotes substantial food.
  • Serves alcohol responsibly or not at all.
  • Arranges safe transport options.

What is the etiquette for drink service? ›

Serve orders in the same sequence you take them, ❖ Ladies first ❖ Then elders ❖ Host last (if it is obvious who they are). ❖ If the drink is not pre-poured, - - Pour at the table 2/3 full -- Leave the bottle on the table with the label facing the guest. ❖ Deliver wines by the glass pre-poured in stemware.

What is considered a good hospitality practice when serving alcohol? ›

(j) Good hospitality policies for the service of alcoholic beverage for consumption by patrons at an ABC licensed premises: (1) Offer or serve a glass of water with the service of alcohol; (2) Serve one beverage per patron at a time; (3) Slow beverage service if needed; Page 11 (4) Do not serve a beverage to anyone who ...

What liability do hosts have for their guests as seen in the law? ›

Social host liability refers to the civil liability that noncommercial alcohol providers face for injuries or damages caused by their intoxicated or underage drinking guests.

What are the responsibilities of a guest at a party? ›

Six Ways to Be a Good Guest
  • Tell your host whether you're attending. And do it immediately. ...
  • Be on time. Punctuality means different things to people in different locales. ...
  • Be a willing participant. ...
  • Offer to help when you can. ...
  • Don't overindulge. ...
  • Thank your host twice.

What is an example of a responsible party? ›

For example, in an LLC, the Responsible Party is the person who possesses the authority to oversee and control the finances and assets belonging to the LLC.

What is the responsibility of a host with drinking guests your answer? ›

Hosts are typically only liable for the harm their drunken guests cause to other people. One notable exception is when a host provides alcohol to a minor. In that situation, a minor who is injured in an alcohol-related accident may be able to file a lawsuit against the host even if the minor caused the accident.

What is a good host expected to do? ›

A good host or hostess is responsible for greeting guests in person and over the phone, taking and organizing reservations, among other things. Pertinent skills required for succeeding in this position include: Excellent Customer Service Skills. Positive Attitude.

When should a good host stop serving alcohol? ›

Make sure guests have access to plenty of water. Don't rush too quickly to refill empty co*cktail or and wine glasses or engage in activity that could create an atmosphere of pressure to drink. Never serve alcohol to guests who are intoxicated. Toward the end of the evening, stop serving liquor entirely.

What should a server do if a guest is intoxicated? ›

Impaired motor coordination.

This is a classic sign of intoxication. If the guest begins staggering, stumbling, swaying, spilling, or slurring, it's time to stop service and make sure the guest has a safe way to get home.

What is an example of a host liquor liability? ›

For example, if an employee gets hurt trying to tip over the office vending machine (after drinking alcohol your company provided), you could be at fault. If he or she causes an accident while driving home from the party, you could also be at fault.

Can the host be held responsible if a guest is involved in a drinking related collision after leaving a party? ›

A host could be sued for general negligence if an adult attendee causes a drunk driving accident following a social event. For the host to be found negligent, it must be proven that the host knew the drunk driver was showing signs of visible intoxication, and still allowed them to operate their vehicle.

What does a host do to guests? ›

Hosts welcome guests, answer questions, and work as a liaison with support staff as the event unfolds. Hosts assist with the planning, preparation, and organization of events, and manage any relevant staff working as helpers, including a kitchen or serving staff.

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