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Alcohol and Company Events




Full Interview transcript

Carl: Hello business owners this is Carl Kleimann with another Business Survival Tip from Odyssey OneSource. Tis the season for company Christmas parties. And in this day and age, there is more to worry about than just the food and entertainment. We have all heard the horror story about the company that was sued after an employee drank too much at a company event then caused an accident. And while the practical reaction is to exclude alcohol altogether, that may not lend itself to the festive environment that your employees expect.

So, what steps can you take to protect your employees and your company? There are several. Start by making sure that your commercial general liability policy covers Host Liquor Liability, because even the best laid plans can fail. This coverage is standard in most commercial policies so chances are, you already have it. Then, use generous doses of common sense.

For example, never make drinking, or eating for that matter, the main focus of any event. Always incorporate entertainment, speeches, presentations, or activities as these will remove the emphasis on drinking.

Always serve food, such as appetizers, right from the start of the party so employees are never drinking on an empty stomach. Offer a variety of interesting, non alcoholic beverages, as alternatives to alcohol. Consider serving just beer and wine and avoid serving drinks such as punch that make it difficult for employees to gauge how much alcohol they are consuming. Consider limiting the number of drinks by using drink tickets or limit the number of hours that the bar is open. Consider closing the bar during dinner and well in advance of the party’s end.

Always hire professional bartenders that are trained to detect over-consumption. Never allow an employee to tend bar. Recruit your managers to keep their eyes open for employees who may be over-indulging and empower them to pay for a cab or offer the employee a ride home. And finally, never ever allow them to get behind the wheel.

I am Carl Kleimann and this has been another Business Survival Tip by Odyssey OneSource, ranked as the number one Professional Employer Organization three years running by the Black Book of Outsourcing.

For more information on this and other issues affecting employers, please visit odysseyonesource.com.


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