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Drunkenness and Insurance for the Holiday Season Office Party

“The best cure for Drunkenness is whilst sober, observe a drunken person.” – Chinese Proverb

Business Insurance New YorkGetting Drunk at the office Holiday Party is never cool, (though often funny for everyone else).

Unfortunately business’s have a lot more to worry about than disgraceful pictures circulating the office email chain after a the annual office holiday party.

If an employee gets blasted drunk at an office party and assaults another employee the resulting lawsuit will most likely be Excluded by the Commercial General Liability insurance policy (Workplace Violence Liability Insurance may be appropriate).

Another possible exclusion includes employees injured in a car accident in which a fellow employee was driving (Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance may be appropriate).

If excluded your New York insurance carrier will not be responsible for defending your business against the lawsuit.

The defense cost along could bankrupt your business.

In New York State, in most instances, injuries to a 3rd-parties (non-employee) by one of your drunk employees or guests of a holiday party will not be excluded as long as serving alcohol is not the business’s primary function (i.e. you don’t operate a bar, restaurant, liquor store, etc.).

If you are a bar, restaurant, liquor store in New York State then the necessary coverage may be Liquor Liability (coverages vary by state).

The following list of Responsible Alcohol Holiday Party tips was provided by National Underwriter magazine (an insurance industry trade publication):

  • Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
  • Consider hiring a professional bartender. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and will limit consumption by party goers.
  • Be a responsible host and or hostess. Limit your own alcohol intake so that you will be better able to judge a person’s sobriety.
  • Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. It is proven that food can help counter the effects of alcohol.
  • Do not pressure guests to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty. And never serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.
  • Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening and 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 seat belts as they drive home. Studies show that seat belts save lives.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and Wonderful Holiday Season!  Stay Safe!

Its important when addressing insurance concerns that you work with a premier NY insurance agency, like The Murray Group, to ensure that potential risks to your business like a Holiday Party are properly covered by a comprehensive New York business insurance program.

Our goal is make sure you have the peace of mind you deserve through insurance and risk management services, so you can get back to doing what you enjoy most, running your business.

If you would to receive a free quote on your NY business insurance please call us at (518) 456-6688 or you can Click Here to email us.

We want to be your partner and grow together!

Image courtesy of ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net