It is becoming increasingly popular to have weddings outside of formal venues, in halls and lodges, and to have receptions at homes. But doing so means there are more factors that you will need to address yourself, since the venue will not be covering them. One such issue that you should think about if you’re serving alcohol, is alcohol liability.
Liability is a complicated issue. Ultimately, the provider of the alcohol (in this case, you) holds the most responsibility. The ones serving can also be held liable, which is why any legitimate independent bartender will carry insurance (commonly referred to as a “bonded” bartender).
Your first line of defense is to see that no one is over-served. That is why finding a responsible bartender is so important. Look for bartenders certified by the Pennsylvania Responsible Alcohol Management Program, which dictates that they will not serve anyone underage, or without valid ID, and that they will not continue to serve anyone they judge to be “visibly intoxicated.” That means someone is at the point that they, with experienced eyes, can tell just by someone’s appearance or behavior that they have been drinking. Deciding when is “too much” can be very subjective, so the state has defined it clearly for us in this way; so it is not a question of how many drinks someone has had, but of how their bodies are responding to the alcohol.
Look for a bartending service that uses experienced bartenders who have worked for prestigious establishments, so you know that they are well practiced in this, having been disciplined by the managers at these bars and restaurants who are looking out for their liabilities. This is significant because some services provide bartenders who have only ever done occasional wedding or party bartending, and may not have the same discipline. You can also ask them to use additional precautions, such as not serving people two drinks at one time, or too close together, and having water available. These practices can be put into place so that people don’t even get to the point of “over indulging.”
In most cases, this will be enough to be reasonably assured of your financial security as it relates to this issue. At this level, however, it also makes sense to consider your guests. Is there a strong risk that your friends and relatives, in the few hours of your reception, will, after a hand-full of drinks, be irresponsible? If you think that might be the case, then consider purchasing wedding insurance , which will specifically cover all of this. If you decide to do so, start by talking with your car or homeowner insurance carrier. But before you decide to spend money on wedding insurance, look into your homeowner’s insurance policy. Some policies include coverage for occasional, off-premise events such as this. If not, you may be able to add one-day coverage to your existing policy for less than it would cost to take out a separate wedding insurance policy.
Other steps you can take include having lodging available nearby, or alternate transportation arranged, so that your guests will be less tempted to drive if they may be beyond the legal limit.
Dave Palmer is the owner of Palmer Bartending, a fully insured bartending service that provides Pennsylvania State certified bartenders for private functions. He has 14 years hospitality experience including bartending, managing, cooking, waiting tables, and catering.
www.palmerbartending.com
814-777-7231
