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If your holiday party includes alcohol, make sure liquor liability is part of your plans.

In the midst of the festive and hectic holiday atmosphere, it is easy to forget the serious responsibility involved with hosting a party at your home or business.

In many states, individuals and employers hosting holiday parties can be held liable if a guest or third party is injured in an accident related to alcohol consumption at your event.

Hosts have been held responsible for medical bills, vehicle repair costs, lost time from work, and even wrongful death. If you plan to host a holiday party this year, take the time to review your homeowners, renter's or comprehensive general liability (CGL) insurance policy to ensure that you have adequate liability coverage if sued and found liable for the actions of a guest who drank at your home or business.

While all holiday partygoers and hosts alike should be responsible and know their limits, consumers need to acknowledge that most risks cannot be eliminated entirely. But planning ahead and learning about what's involved in hosting a reception is the best defense.

How to protect yourself and your guests:
If you plan on serving alcohol at a holiday party, following are some tips to promote safe alcohol consumption and reduce your social host liability exposure:

• Limit guest list to those you know.
• 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.
• Consider venues other than your home or office 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.
• Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for those who should not drive home.
• Stop serving alcohol well before the time the party is to end.
• Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.
• Be a responsible host/hostess. Limit your own alcohol intake so that you will be better able to judge your guests' sobriety.

Liability Coverage Tips:

• If hosting a holiday party, individuals should look to the liability portion of their homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy to provide them protection if they are sued and found liable for an accident involving a guest who drank at their home.
• Employers need to make sure that their comprehensive general liability (CGL) policy provides them coverage for third-party liquor liability policy before hosting that holiday office party.
• Charging employees for alcoholic beverages in the home or office may not always be the best solution for business parties. It is important for businesses to remember that once they charge a fee for alcohol, they have technically entered the alcohol sales business, even if only for one night. That carries with it requirements for a liquor license and an array of special liability protection needs. It by no means lets these employers off the hook."
• Purchasing a personal "umbrella" liability policy-that can provide $1 million or more in additional coverage over the limit offered by a standard homeowners or renters policy-may be a prudent move for the frequent party host. This type of coverage can cost as little as $125 a year.
  
  

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