{"ab":false,"abStatus":null,"abTestId":null,"abVariation":false,"abVariationAutomated":false,"absoluteUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding","afterPostBody":null,"aifeatures":null,"allowedSlugConflict":false,"analytics":null,"analyticsPageId":"9963649974","analyticsPageType":"blog-post","approvalStatus":null,"archived":false,"archivedAt":0,"archivedInDashboard":false,"areCommentsAllowed":true,"attachedStylesheets":[],"audienceAccess":"PUBLIC","author":null,"authorName":null,"authorUsername":null,"blogAuthor":{"avatar":"","bio":"Grant Patten - VP, Marketing","cdnPurgeEmbargoTime":null,"cosObjectType":"BLOG_AUTHOR","created":1557244191140,"deletedAt":0,"displayName":"Grant Patten","email":"grant@frontrowinsurance.com","facebook":"","fullName":"Grant Patten","gravatarUrl":"https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/9751f803d54c2340cccdf5025adc9aa4","hasSocialProfiles":false,"id":9474946913,"label":"Grant Patten","language":null,"linkedin":"","name":"Grant Patten","portalId":61352,"slug":"grant-patten","translatedFromId":null,"translations":{},"twitter":"","twitterUsername":"","updated":1557244191140,"userId":null,"username":null,"website":""},"blogAuthorId":9474946913,"blogPostAuthor":{"avatar":"","bio":"Grant Patten - VP, Marketing","cdnPurgeEmbargoTime":null,"cosObjectType":"BLOG_AUTHOR","created":1557244191140,"deletedAt":0,"displayName":"Grant Patten","email":"grant@frontrowinsurance.com","facebook":"","fullName":"Grant Patten","gravatarUrl":"https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/9751f803d54c2340cccdf5025adc9aa4","hasSocialProfiles":false,"id":9474946913,"label":"Grant Patten","language":null,"linkedin":"","name":"Grant Patten","portalId":61352,"slug":"grant-patten","translatedFromId":null,"translations":{},"twitter":"","twitterUsername":"","updated":1557244191140,"userId":null,"username":null,"website":""},"blogPostScheduleTaskUid":null,"blogPublishInstantEmailCampaignId":null,"blogPublishInstantEmailRetryCount":null,"blogPublishInstantEmailTaskUid":"DONE","blogPublishToSocialMediaTask":"DONE","blueprintTypeId":0,"businessUnitId":null,"campaign":null,"campaignName":null,"campaignUtm":null,"category":3,"categoryId":3,"cdnPurgeEmbargoTime":null,"checkPostLevelAudienceAccessFirst":true,"clonedFrom":null,"composeBody":null,"compositionId":0,"contentAccessRuleIds":[],"contentAccessRuleTypes":[],"contentGroup":952267656,"contentGroupId":952267656,"contentTypeCategory":3,"contentTypeCategoryId":3,"contentTypeId":null,"created":1558969325114,"createdById":7915797,"createdTime":1558969325114,"crmObjectId":null,"css":{},"cssText":"","ctaClicks":null,"ctaViews":null,"currentState":"PUBLISHED","currentlyPublished":true,"deletedAt":0,"deletedBy":null,"deletedByEmail":null,"deletedById":null,"domain":"","dynamicPageDataSourceId":null,"dynamicPageDataSourceType":null,"dynamicPageHubDbTableId":null,"enableDomainStylesheets":null,"enableGoogleAmpOutputOverride":false,"enableLayoutStylesheets":null,"errors":[],"featuredImage":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg","featuredImageAltText":"Wine glasses and cake: Host Liquor Liability Insurance","featuredImageHeight":400,"featuredImageLength":0,"featuredImageWidth":600,"flexAreas":{},"folderId":null,"footerHtml":null,"freezeDate":1559063096000,"generateJsonLdEnabledOverride":true,"hasContentAccessRules":false,"hasUserChanges":true,"headHtml":"<!-- START - Generated by ClassySchema.org on Thu, 05 Nov 2020 18:45:11 GMT -->\n<script type=\"application/ld+json\">\n{\n\t\"@context\": \"http://schema.org\",\n\t\"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n\t\"name\": \"Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding | Party Alcohol Liability\",\n\t\"description\": \"Read more: https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding If you’re planning to have alcohol served ...\",\n\t\"thumbnailUrl\": \"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-BFnXMJksew/mqdefault.jpg\",\n\t\"duration\": \"PT16S\",\n\t\"contentUrl\": \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BFnXMJksew\",\n\t\"embedUrl\": \"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew\",\n\t\"uploadDate\": \"2020-01-31\"\n}\n</script>\n<!-- END - Generated by ClassySchema.org-->","header":null,"htmlTitle":"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding","id":9963649974,"includeDefaultCustomCss":null,"isCaptchaRequired":true,"isCrawlableByBots":false,"isDraft":false,"isInstanceLayoutPage":false,"isInstantEmailEnabled":true,"isPublished":true,"isSocialPublishingEnabled":false,"keywords":[],"label":"<span id=\"hs_cos_wrapper_name\" class=\"hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text\" style=\"\" data-hs-cos-general-type=\"meta_field\" data-hs-cos-type=\"text\" >Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding</span>","language":"en","lastEditSessionId":null,"lastEditUpdateId":null,"layoutSections":{},"legacyBlogTabid":null,"legacyId":null,"legacyPostGuid":null,"linkRelCanonicalUrl":"","listTemplate":"prox_frontrow/templates/blog/blog-listing.html","liveDomain":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","mab":false,"mabExperimentId":null,"mabMaster":false,"mabVariant":false,"meta":{"html_title":"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding","public_access_rules_enabled":false,"public_access_rules":[],"post_summary":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n","post_body":"\n\n\n\n <span id=\"hs_cos_wrapper_post_body\" class=\"hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text\" style=\"\" data-hs-cos-general-type=\"meta_field\" data-hs-cos-type=\"rich_text\" ><div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance</h2>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2>What is Host Liquor Liability?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"160\" style=\"width: 160px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online <a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">liquor liability insurance in the US</a>.</p>\n<h2>Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a <a href=\"/articles/insurance-for-photos-booths-photo-booth-insurance-from-front-row\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth</a>, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Are you in the US?</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding insurance in the US</a><span>&nbsp;</span>can be arranged quickly through our online program.&nbsp;</em></p></span>\n","rss_summary":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n","rss_body":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance</h2>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2>What is Host Liquor Liability?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"160\" style=\"width: 160px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online <a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">liquor liability insurance in the US</a>.</p>\n<h2>Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a <a href=\"/articles/insurance-for-photos-booths-photo-booth-insurance-from-front-row\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth</a>, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Are you in the US?</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding insurance in the US</a><span>&nbsp;</span>can be arranged quickly through our online program.&nbsp;</em></p>","tag_ids":[9961951770],"topic_ids":[9961951770],"enable_google_amp_output_override":false,"generate_json_ld_enabled":true,"blog_post_schedule_task_uid":null,"blog_publish_to_social_media_task":"DONE","blog_publish_instant_email_task_uid":"DONE","blog_publish_instant_email_campaign_id":null,"blog_publish_instant_email_retry_count":null,"keywords":[],"composition_id":0,"is_crawlable_by_bots":false,"use_featured_image":true,"meta_description":"If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, consider adding host liquor liability insurance onto your event insurance policy.","meta_keywords":null,"head_html":"<!-- START - Generated by ClassySchema.org on Thu, 05 Nov 2020 18:45:11 GMT -->\n<script type=\"application/ld+json\">\n{\n\t\"@context\": \"http://schema.org\",\n\t\"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n\t\"name\": \"Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding | Party Alcohol Liability\",\n\t\"description\": \"Read more: https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding If you’re planning to have alcohol served ...\",\n\t\"thumbnailUrl\": \"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-BFnXMJksew/mqdefault.jpg\",\n\t\"duration\": \"PT16S\",\n\t\"contentUrl\": \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BFnXMJksew\",\n\t\"embedUrl\": \"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew\",\n\t\"uploadDate\": \"2020-01-31\"\n}\n</script>\n<!-- END - Generated by ClassySchema.org-->","footer_html":null,"attached_stylesheets":[],"enable_domain_stylesheets":null,"include_default_custom_css":null,"layout_sections":{},"password":null,"enable_layout_stylesheets":null,"tweet":null,"tweet_at":null,"campaign_name":null,"campaign_utm":null,"tweet_immediately":false,"publish_immediately":true,"security_state":"NONE","scheduled_update_date":0,"placement_guids":[],"property_for_dynamic_page_title":null,"property_for_dynamic_page_slug":null,"property_for_dynamic_page_meta_description":null,"property_for_dynamic_page_featured_image":null,"property_for_dynamic_page_canonical_url":null,"preview_image_src":null,"legacy_blog_tabid":null,"legacy_post_guid":null,"performable_variation_letter":null,"style_override_id":null,"has_user_changes":true,"css":{},"css_text":"","unpublished_at":0,"published_by_id":7915797,"allowed_slug_conflict":false,"ai_features":null,"link_rel_canonical_url":"","page_redirected":false,"page_expiry_enabled":null,"page_expiry_date":null,"page_expiry_redirect_id":null,"page_expiry_redirect_url":null,"deleted_by_id":null,"deleted_by":null,"state_when_deleted":null,"cloned_from":null,"staged_from":null,"personas":[],"compose_body":null,"featured_image":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg","featured_image_alt_text":"Wine glasses and cake: Host Liquor Liability Insurance","featured_image_width":600,"featured_image_height":400,"publish_timezone_offset":null,"theme_settings_values":null,"past_mab_experiment_ids":[],"header":null,"published_at":1666897146321,"last_edit_session_id":null,"last_edit_update_id":null},"metaDescription":"If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, consider adding host liquor liability insurance onto your event insurance policy.","metaKeywords":null,"name":"<span id=\"hs_cos_wrapper_name\" class=\"hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text\" style=\"\" data-hs-cos-general-type=\"meta_field\" data-hs-cos-type=\"text\" >Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding</span>","nextPostFeaturedImage":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/wedding-planner-insurance-shutterstock_2114070722-forweb600.jpg","nextPostFeaturedImageAltText":"Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Planner","nextPostName":"Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Planner","nextPostSlug":"articles/benefits-of-hiring-a-wedding-planner","pageExpiryDate":null,"pageExpiryEnabled":null,"pageExpiryRedirectId":null,"pageExpiryRedirectUrl":null,"pageRedirected":false,"pageTitle":"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding","parentBlog":{"absoluteUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles","allowComments":true,"ampBodyColor":"#404040","ampBodyFont":"'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif","ampBodyFontSize":"18","ampCustomCss":"","ampHeaderBackgroundColor":"#ffffff","ampHeaderColor":"#1e1e1e","ampHeaderFont":"'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif","ampHeaderFontSize":"36","ampLinkColor":"#416bb3","ampLogoAlt":"Front Row Insurance logo","ampLogoHeight":63,"ampLogoSrc":"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/front-row-logo.png","ampLogoWidth":175,"analyticsPageId":137640,"attachedStylesheets":[],"audienceAccess":"PUBLIC","businessUnitId":null,"captchaAfterDays":7,"captchaAlways":false,"categoryId":3,"cdnPurgeEmbargoTime":null,"closeCommentsOlder":0,"commentDateFormat":"medium","commentFormGuid":"7a447743-bbf2-4b55-a759-b405bf392a7d","commentMaxThreadDepth":3,"commentModeration":true,"commentNotificationEmails":["mike@frontrowinsurance.com","grant@frontrowinsurance.com"],"commentShouldCreateContact":true,"commentVerificationText":"","cosObjectType":"BLOG","created":1401900293000,"createdDateTime":1401900293000,"dailyNotificationEmailId":"952268096","dateFormattingLanguage":"en_US","defaultGroupStyleId":"","defaultNotificationFromName":"","defaultNotificationReplyTo":"","deletedAt":0,"description":"The Front Row Insurance Blog where you can learn and converse about all things entertainment insurance related.","domain":"","domainWhenPublished":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","emailApiSubscriptionId":283237,"enableGoogleAmpOutput":true,"enableSocialAutoPublishing":false,"generateJsonLdEnabled":false,"header":null,"htmlFooter":"<!-- DELTA-->","htmlFooterIsShared":false,"htmlHead":"<!-- Blog Schema by Front Row Insurance // https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/ -->\n\n<script type=\"application/ld+json\">\n {\n \"@context\": \"http://schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n \"mainEntityOfPage\":{\n \"@type\":\"WebPage\",\n \"@id\":\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding\"\n },\n \"headline\": \"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding\",\n \"image\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg\"\n },\n \"datePublished\": \"2019-05-28 17:04:56\",\n \"dateModified\": \"\",\n \"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"') }}\"\n },\n \"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FRONT ROW INSURANCE BROKERS\",\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/images/Logos/FR_logo_%5BConverted,-Inverted%5D.png\"\n }\n },\n \"description\": \"If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, consider adding host liquor liability insurance onto your event insurance policy.\"\n }\n </script>\n <!-- End Schema --> \n<script type=\"text/javascript\">\n window._mNHandle = window._mNHandle || {};\n window._mNHandle.queue = window._mNHandle.queue || [];\n medianet_versionId = \"3121199\";\n</script>\n<script src=\"https://contextual.media.net/dmedianet.js?cid=8CU76IWTZ\" async=\"async\"></script>","htmlHeadIsShared":true,"htmlKeywords":["Front Row Insurance Blog"," entertainment blog"," film blog"," film insurance"," event insurance"," film festival blog"," production blog"," musicians blog"," "],"htmlTitle":"The Front Row View (entertainment insurance blog)","id":952267656,"instantNotificationEmailId":"952268061","itemLayoutId":null,"itemTemplateIsShared":false,"itemTemplatePath":"prox_frontrow/templates/blog/blog-post.html","label":"The Front Row View (entertainment insurance blog)","language":"en","legacyGuid":"469ce2ec-4dd9-442d-984a-3bab2557a02f","legacyModuleId":"164112","legacyTabId":137640,"listingLayoutId":null,"listingPageId":70026589976,"listingTemplatePath":"prox_frontrow/templates/blog/blog-listing.html","liveDomain":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","monthFilterFormat":"MMMM yyyy","monthlyNotificationEmailId":"952267981","name":"The Front Row View (entertainment insurance blog)","parentBlogUpdateTaskId":null,"portalId":61352,"postHtmlFooter":"<!-- OMEGA-->","postHtmlHead":"<!-- Blog Schema by Front Row Insurance // https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/ -->\n\n<script type=\"application/ld+json\">\n {\n \"@context\": \"http://schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n \"mainEntityOfPage\":{\n \"@type\":\"WebPage\",\n \"@id\":\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding\"\n },\n \"headline\": \"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding\",\n \"image\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg\"\n },\n \"datePublished\": \"2019-05-28 17:04:56\",\n \"dateModified\": \"\",\n \"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"') }}\"\n },\n \"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FRONT ROW INSURANCE BROKERS\",\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/images/Logos/FR_logo_%5BConverted,-Inverted%5D.png\"\n }\n },\n \"description\": \"If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, consider adding host liquor liability insurance onto your event insurance policy.\"\n }\n </script>\n <!-- End Schema --> \n<script type=\"text/javascript\">\n window._mNHandle = window._mNHandle || {};\n window._mNHandle.queue = window._mNHandle.queue || [];\n medianet_versionId = \"3121199\";\n</script>\n<script src=\"https://contextual.media.net/dmedianet.js?cid=8CU76IWTZ\" async=\"async\"></script>","postsPerListingPage":10,"postsPerRssFeed":10,"publicAccessRules":[],"publicAccessRulesEnabled":false,"publicTitle":"The Front Row View (entertainment insurance blog)","publishDateFormat":"medium","resolvedDomain":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","rootUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles","rssCustomFeed":"","rssDescription":"RSS feeds for ","rssItemFooter":"<IMG style=\"WIDTH: 144px; HEIGHT: 78px\" title=\"\" border=0 alt=\"\" align=center src=\"http://focusinsurance.web6.hubspot.com/Portals/61352/images//logo_final.jpg\" width=138 height=78 mce_src=\"/Portals/61352/images//logo_final.jpg\">","rssItemHeader":"","settingsOverrides":{"itemLayoutId":false,"itemTemplatePath":false,"itemTemplateIsShared":false,"listingLayoutId":false,"listingTemplatePath":false,"postsPerListingPage":false,"showSummaryInListing":false,"useFeaturedImageInSummary":false,"htmlHead":false,"postHtmlHead":false,"htmlHeadIsShared":false,"htmlFooter":false,"listingPageHtmlFooter":false,"postHtmlFooter":false,"htmlFooterIsShared":false,"attachedStylesheets":false,"postsPerRssFeed":false,"showSummaryInRss":false,"showSummaryInEmails":false,"showSummariesInEmails":false,"allowComments":false,"commentShouldCreateContact":false,"commentModeration":false,"closeCommentsOlder":false,"commentNotificationEmails":false,"commentMaxThreadDepth":false,"commentVerificationText":false,"socialAccountTwitter":false,"showSocialLinkTwitter":false,"showSocialLinkLinkedin":false,"showSocialLinkFacebook":false,"enableGoogleAmpOutput":false,"ampLogoSrc":false,"ampLogoHeight":false,"ampLogoWidth":false,"ampLogoAlt":false,"ampHeaderFont":false,"ampHeaderFontSize":false,"ampHeaderColor":false,"ampHeaderBackgroundColor":false,"ampBodyFont":false,"ampBodyFontSize":false,"ampBodyColor":false,"ampLinkColor":false,"generateJsonLdEnabled":false},"showSocialLinkFacebook":true,"showSocialLinkLinkedin":true,"showSocialLinkTwitter":true,"showSummaryInEmails":true,"showSummaryInListing":false,"showSummaryInRss":true,"siteId":0,"slug":"articles","socialAccountTwitter":"","state":null,"subscriptionContactsProperty":"blog_blog_the_front_row_view_subscription","subscriptionEmailType":null,"subscriptionFormGuid":"a2c254df-2214-4c54-bd51-46da1e3029fb","subscriptionListsByType":{"daily":12,"instant":11,"monthly":10,"weekly":13},"title":null,"translatedFromId":null,"translations":{"fr":{"absoluteUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/fr/blogue","id":2471031463,"language":"fr","masterId":952267656,"name":"The Front Row View (entertainment insurance blog)","publicAccessRules":[],"publicAccessRulesEnabled":false,"slug":"fr/blogue"}},"updated":1693318083280,"updatedDateTime":1693318083280,"urlBase":"www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles","urlSegments":{},"useFeaturedImageInSummary":true,"usesDefaultTemplate":false,"weeklyNotificationEmailId":"952268106"},"password":null,"pastMabExperimentIds":[],"performableGuid":null,"performableVariationLetter":null,"personas":[],"placementGuids":[],"portableKey":null,"portalId":61352,"position":null,"postBody":"\n\n\n\n <span id=\"hs_cos_wrapper_post_body\" class=\"hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text\" style=\"\" data-hs-cos-general-type=\"meta_field\" data-hs-cos-type=\"rich_text\" ><div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance</h2>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2>What is Host Liquor Liability?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"160\" style=\"width: 160px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online <a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">liquor liability insurance in the US</a>.</p>\n<h2>Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a <a href=\"/articles/insurance-for-photos-booths-photo-booth-insurance-from-front-row\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth</a>, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Are you in the US?</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding insurance in the US</a><span>&nbsp;</span>can be arranged quickly through our online program.&nbsp;</em></p></span>\n","postBodyRss":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance</h2>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2>What is Host Liquor Liability?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"160\" style=\"width: 160px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online <a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">liquor liability insurance in the US</a>.</p>\n<h2>Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a <a href=\"/articles/insurance-for-photos-booths-photo-booth-insurance-from-front-row\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth</a>, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Are you in the US?</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding insurance in the US</a><span>&nbsp;</span>can be arranged quickly through our online program.&nbsp;</em></p>","postEmailContent":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\"> \n <div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\">\n <iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe>\n </div> \n</div>","postFeaturedImageIfEnabled":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg","postListContent":"\n\n\n\n <span id=\"hs_cos_wrapper_post_body\" class=\"hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text\" style=\"\" data-hs-cos-general-type=\"meta_field\" data-hs-cos-type=\"rich_text\" ><div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance</h2>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2>What is Host Liquor Liability?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"160\" style=\"width: 160px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online <a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">liquor liability insurance in the US</a>.</p>\n<h2>Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a <a href=\"/articles/insurance-for-photos-booths-photo-booth-insurance-from-front-row\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth</a>, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Are you in the US?</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding insurance in the US</a><span>&nbsp;</span>can be arranged quickly through our online program.&nbsp;</em></p></span>\n","postListSummaryFeaturedImage":"","postRssContent":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\"> \n <div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\">\n <iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe>\n </div> \n</div>","postRssSummaryFeaturedImage":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg","postSummary":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n","postSummaryRss":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\"> \n <div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\">\n <iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe>\n </div> \n</div>","postTemplate":"prox_frontrow/templates/blog/blog-post.html","previewImageSrc":null,"previewKey":"GnMqzKAg","previousPostFeaturedImage":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/Best%20gimbals/best-camera-gimbals-shutterstock_198672409-forweb600.jpg","previousPostFeaturedImageAltText":"Camera gimbal: Preventing Film Equipment Theft","previousPostName":"Preventing Film Equipment Theft – Tips","previousPostSlug":"articles/preventing-film-equipment-theft","processingStatus":"PUBLISHED","propertyForDynamicPageCanonicalUrl":null,"propertyForDynamicPageFeaturedImage":null,"propertyForDynamicPageMetaDescription":null,"propertyForDynamicPageSlug":null,"propertyForDynamicPageTitle":null,"publicAccessRules":[],"publicAccessRulesEnabled":false,"publishDate":1559063096000,"publishDateLocalTime":1559063096000,"publishDateLocalized":{"date":1559063096000,"format":"medium","language":"en_US"},"publishImmediately":true,"publishTimezoneOffset":null,"publishedAt":1666897146321,"publishedByEmail":null,"publishedById":7915797,"publishedByName":null,"publishedUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding","resolvedDomain":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","resolvedLanguage":null,"rssBody":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance</h2>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2>What is Host Liquor Liability?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability</strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"160\" style=\"width: 160px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online <a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">liquor liability insurance in the US</a>.</p>\n<h2>Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking&nbsp;</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a <a href=\"/articles/insurance-for-photos-booths-photo-booth-insurance-from-front-row\" rel=\"noopener\">photo booth</a>, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Are you in the US?</span><span>&nbsp;</span><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding insurance in the US</a><span>&nbsp;</span>can be arranged quickly through our online program.&nbsp;</em></p>","rssSummary":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n","rssSummaryFeaturedImage":"https://61352.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/61352/blog-image-uploads/weddings/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplashforweb600.jpg","scheduledUpdateDate":0,"screenshotPreviewTakenAt":1709924345243,"screenshotPreviewUrl":"https://cdn1.hubspot.net/hubshotv3/prod/e/0/3cbfa505-b93f-4410-9e87-afa1c6daa76c.png","sections":{},"securityState":"NONE","siteId":null,"slug":"articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding","stagedFrom":null,"state":"PUBLISHED","stateWhenDeleted":null,"styleOverrideId":null,"subcategory":"normal_blog_post","syncedWithBlogRoot":true,"tagIds":[9961951770],"tagList":[{"categoryId":3,"cdnPurgeEmbargoTime":null,"contentIds":[],"cosObjectType":"TAG","created":1558969394380,"deletedAt":0,"description":"","id":9961951770,"label":"Host liquor liability","language":"en","name":"Host liquor liability","portalId":61352,"slug":"host-liquor-liability","translatedFromId":null,"translations":{},"updated":1666900116541}],"tagNames":["Host liquor liability"],"teamPerms":[],"templatePath":"","templatePathForRender":"prox_frontrow/templates/blog/blog-post.html","textToAudioFileId":null,"textToAudioGenerationRequestId":null,"themePath":null,"themeSettingsValues":null,"title":"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding","tmsId":null,"topicIds":[9961951770],"topicList":[{"categoryId":3,"cdnPurgeEmbargoTime":null,"contentIds":[],"cosObjectType":"TAG","created":1558969394380,"deletedAt":0,"description":"","id":9961951770,"label":"Host liquor liability","language":"en","name":"Host liquor liability","portalId":61352,"slug":"host-liquor-liability","translatedFromId":null,"translations":{},"updated":1666900116541}],"topicNames":["Host liquor liability"],"topics":[9961951770],"translatedContent":{"fr":{"ab":false,"absoluteUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/fr/blogue/assurance-de-responsabilite-pour-hotes","approvalStatus":null,"archived":false,"archivedInDashboard":false,"audienceAccess":"PUBLIC","authorName":null,"businessUnitId":null,"campaign":null,"created":1562961050640,"currentState":"PUBLISHED","htmlTitle":"POURQUOI OBTENIR UNE ASSURANCE RESPONSABILITÉ LIÉE À L’ALCOOL POUR VOTRE MARIAGE?","id":11229663088,"language":"fr","mab":false,"masterId":9963649974,"name":"POURQUOI OBTENIR UNE ASSURANCE RESPONSABILITÉ LIÉE À L’ALCOOL POUR VOTRE MARIAGE?","password":null,"previewKey":"UUSLaVWK","publicAccessRules":[],"publicAccessRulesEnabled":false,"publishDate":1562962354000,"published":true,"resolvedDomain":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","securityState":"NONE","slug":"fr/blogue/assurance-de-responsabilite-pour-hotes","state":"PUBLISHED","tagIds":[6488526540],"teamPerms":[],"themePath":null,"updated":1666897335134,"updatedById":7915797}},"translatedFromId":null,"translations":{"fr":{"ab":false,"absoluteUrl":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/fr/blogue/assurance-de-responsabilite-pour-hotes","approvalStatus":null,"archived":false,"archivedInDashboard":false,"audienceAccess":"PUBLIC","authorName":null,"businessUnitId":null,"campaign":null,"created":1562961050640,"currentState":"PUBLISHED","htmlTitle":"POURQUOI OBTENIR UNE ASSURANCE RESPONSABILITÉ LIÉE À L’ALCOOL POUR VOTRE MARIAGE?","id":11229663088,"language":"fr","mab":false,"masterId":9963649974,"name":"POURQUOI OBTENIR UNE ASSURANCE RESPONSABILITÉ LIÉE À L’ALCOOL POUR VOTRE MARIAGE?","password":null,"previewKey":"UUSLaVWK","publicAccessRules":[],"publicAccessRulesEnabled":false,"publishDate":1562962354000,"published":true,"resolvedDomain":"www.frontrowinsurance.com","securityState":"NONE","slug":"fr/blogue/assurance-de-responsabilite-pour-hotes","state":"PUBLISHED","tagIds":[6488526540],"teamPerms":[],"themePath":null,"updated":1666897335134,"updatedById":7915797}},"tweet":null,"tweetAt":null,"tweetImmediately":false,"unpublishedAt":0,"updated":1666897146326,"updatedById":7915797,"upsizeFeaturedImage":false,"url":"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/host-liquor-liability-insurance-consider-it-for-your-wedding","useFeaturedImage":true,"userPerms":[],"views":0,"visibleToAll":null,"widgetContainers":{},"widgetcontainers":{},"widgets":{"menu_footer_primary":{"body":{"flow":"horizontal","max_levels":1,"root_key":"None","root_type":"site_root","site_map_name":"Primary","tag":"menu","type":"menu"},"child_css":{},"css":{},"deleted_at":1560870469648,"id":"menu_footer_primary","label":"Menu Footer Primary","name":"menu_footer_primary","order":9,"smart_type":null,"type":"menu"},"menu_header_all_sectors":{"body":{"flow":"horizontal","max_levels":3,"root_key":"None","root_type":"site_root","site_map_name":"All Sectors","tag":"menu","type":"menu"},"child_css":{},"css":{},"deleted_at":1560870469648,"id":"menu_header_all_sectors","label":"Menu Header All Sectors","name":"menu_header_all_sectors","order":1,"smart_type":null,"type":"menu"},"menu_header_primary":{"body":{"flow":"horizontal","max_levels":1,"root_key":"None","root_type":"site_root","site_map_name":"Primary","tag":"menu","type":"menu"},"child_css":{},"css":{},"deleted_at":1560870469648,"id":"menu_header_primary","label":"Menu Header Primary","name":"menu_header_primary","order":0,"smart_type":null,"type":"menu"},"menu_header_sector_categories":{"body":{"flow":"horizontal","max_levels":2,"root_key":"None","root_type":"site_root","site_map_name":"Sector Categories","tag":"menu","type":"menu"},"child_css":{},"css":{},"deleted_at":1560870469648,"id":"menu_header_sector_categories","label":"Menu Header Sector Categories","name":"menu_header_sector_categories","order":2,"smart_type":null,"type":"menu"},"module_156398965931111":{"body":{"definition_id":null,"module_id":8696351,"path":"/Marketplace/HubSpot/Team_Member/Team Member","per_widget_wrapper_html":"","smart_objects":null,"smart_type":"NOT_SMART","tag":"module","type":"module","widget_name":"Team Member","wrapping_html":""},"child_css":{},"css":{},"deleted_at":1650475028989,"id":"module_156398965931111","label":"Team Member","module_id":8696351,"name":"module_156398965931111","order":11,"smart_type":null,"styles":{},"type":"module"},"module_15960847531069":{"body":{"add_form":{"form_id":"a34db407-f11f-41c8-a0ad-09a1052636c7","form_type":"HUBSPOT","gotowebinar_webinar_key":null,"message":"<p>Thanks for submitting the form. The eBook will be emailed to you shortly.</p>","response_type":"inline"},"add_form_title":"Planning a Wedding? Protect It. Get Your Free eBook with Tips:","enable_form":false,"module_id":33051772119},"child_css":{},"css":{},"id":"module_15960847531069","label":"Blog Subscribe New Module 2020","module_id":33051772119,"name":"module_15960847531069","order":5,"smart_type":null,"styles":{},"type":"module"},"module_15965216980304":{"body":{"add_content":"<div class=\"section post-body\">\n<h3>RELATED LINKS:</h3>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/wedding-insurance-101\" rel=\" noopener\">Wedding Insurance 101 &amp; How to Protect Your Wedding Investments</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/articles/wedding-insurance-usa-wedding-liability-insurance-united-states\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding Insurance USA | Wedding Liability Insurance United States</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"/articles/what-is-wedding-insurance\" rel=\" noopener\">Wedding Insurance: what is it?</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/event-liability-blog/4-reasons-to-buy-online-insurance-for-weddings-from-front-row?hsLang=fr-ca\" rel=\" noopener\">4 Reasons to Buy Online Insurance for Weddings</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/event-liability-blog/wedding-insurance-cost-less-than-you-think-if-you-buy-online?hsLang=fr-ca\" rel=\" noopener\">Wedding Insurance Cost: Less than You Think</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/event-liability-blog/are-you-renting-out-your-church-synagogue-mosque-or-other-place-of-worship-heres-what-you-need-to-know?hsLang=fr-ca\" rel=\" noopener\">Renting out your church, mosque or other place of worship?</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/event-liability-blog/have-the-backyard-wedding-of-your-dreams-just-dont-forget-to-insure-it?hsLang=fr-ca\" rel=\" noopener\">Keep your Backyard Wedding on a Budget</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"/event-liability-blog/planning-a-wedding-at-home-will-your-homeowners-policy-cover-you?hsLang=fr-ca\" rel=\" noopener\">Planning a Wedding at Home?</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"/articles/planning-a-bridal-shower-you-should-consider-insuring-it\" rel=\"noopener\">Planning a Bridal Shower?</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"/bridal-shower-insurance\" rel=\"noopener\">Baby Shower Insurance</a></p>\n<p>Host Liquor Liability Insurance</p>\n<p><a href=\"/en-us/wedding-insurance-usa\" rel=\"noopener\">Wedding Insurance USA</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"/articles/how-to-prevent-wedding-crashers\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Prevent Wedding Crashers</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"/articles/benefits-of-hiring-a-wedding-planner\" rel=\"noopener\">Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Planner</a></p>\n</div>\n<h3>CITATIONS:</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://howmuch.net/costs/liquor-liability\" rel=\" noopener\">https://howmuch.net/costs/liquor-liability</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/liquor-license\" rel=\" noopener\" style=\"background-color: transparent;\">https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/liquor-license</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.edgarsnyder.com/blog/2015/07/02-prevent-drunk-driving-wedding.html\" rel=\" noopener\" style=\"background-color: transparent;\">https://www.edgarsnyder.com/blog/2015/07/02-prevent-drunk-driving-wedding.html</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dram_shop\" rel=\" noopener\">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dram_shop</a></li>\n<li><strong>Glasses Image</strong>: tikkho maciel, Unsplash</li>\n</ul>","enable_rich_text_module":true,"module_id":33156769794},"child_css":{},"css":{},"id":"module_15965216980304","label":"Basic Rich Text Box for Blog","module_id":33156769794,"name":"module_15965216980304","order":7,"smart_type":null,"styles":{},"type":"module"},"name":{"body":{"title":"Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding"},"id":"name","label":"Title","name":"name","type":"text"},"post_body":{"body":{"html":"<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-wrapper hs-responsive-embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; max-width: 560px; max-height: 315px; min-width: 256px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;\">\n<div class=\"hs-responsive-embed-inner-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0;\"><iframe class=\"hs-responsive-embed-iframe\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" xml=\"lang\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BFnXMJksew?controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-service=\"youtube\"></iframe></div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<h1>Host Liquor Liability Insurance | PARTY ALCOHOL LIABILITY INSURANCE</h1>\n<p>If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding <strong>host liquor liability insurance</strong> onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.</p>\n<p>In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.</p>\n<h2><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/liquor-wedding-tikkho-maciel-unsplash.jpg\" width=\"300\" style=\"width: 300px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;\" alt=\"Host Liquor Liability Insurance\">What is Host Liquor Liability Insurance?</h2>\n<p>Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.</p>\n<p>A <strong>host liquor liability insurance policy</strong> will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Liability Terms to Know</h2>\n<p><em>What is the difference between <strong>Primary liquor liability coverage</strong> and <strong>Host liquor liability coverage</strong>?</em> The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.</p>\n<p>Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.</p>\n<p><em>What does it mean to be <strong>“over-served”</strong>?</em> This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.</p>\n<h2>Liquor Laws &amp; Licenses</h2>\n<p>A <strong>liquor license</strong> (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/61352/Smart-Serve-Logo.png\" alt=\"Smart Serve Ontario logo\" width=\"180\" style=\"width: 180px; float: right; margin: 0px 11px 10px 8px;\">In Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is <span><a href=\"https://smartserve.ca/\" rel=\" noopener\">Smart Serve</a></span> and in BC, there is <span>Serving it Right</span>.</p>\n<p>In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers <span><a href=\"https://sla.ny.gov/permits-available-online\" rel=\" noopener\">30 different permits</a></span> that can be applied for online. In California, there is the <span><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Alcoholic_Beverage_Control\" rel=\" noopener\">Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control</a></span>, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained.</p>\n<h2>Examples of Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents</h2>\n<p>More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:</p>\n<p>In 2018, Daily Mail reported on <span>a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab</span>, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.</p>\n<p>In 2014, ABC reported on <span>a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania</span> that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.</p>\n<p>In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player <span><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9322904/Police-called-to-wedding-of-ex-Newcastle-player-Danny-Guthrie-over-stately-home-brawl.html\">Danny Guthrie’s wedding</a></span> after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.</p>\n<p>None of the above examples indicate that the married couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.</p>\n<h2>How to Discourage Overdrinking at a Wedding</h2>\n<p>Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a <strong>dry wedding</strong> (a wedding without any alcohol), then consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount</li>\n<li>Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest</li>\n<li>Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)</li>\n<li>Hire an experienced bartender (or two)</li>\n<li>Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol</li>\n<li>Give guests activities rather than a bar alone,<em> e.g.,</em> board games, a photo booth, a scavenger hunt, special dances</li>\n<li>Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | liquor liability insurance for wedding</h2>\n<p>Get started by completing the <span><strong><a href=\"https://events.frontrowinsurance.com/\" rel=\" noopener\">Event Insurance</a></strong></span> quote form at Front Row, indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.</p>"},"deleted_at":1604601924355,"id":"post_body","label":"Blog Content","name":"post_body","type":"rich_text"}}}

Host Liquor Liability Insurance – Consider it for Your Wedding

Wine glasses and cake: Host Liquor Liability Insurance

 

Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Party Alcohol Liability Insurance

If you’re planning to have alcohol served at your wedding, then it is important to consider adding host liquor liability insurance onto your event insurance policy. Your guests will hopefully behave like responsible adults at all times, but in the event that alcohol fuels a fight where someone gets injured or something similarly troublesome, host liquor liability insurance will cover you.

In this post, we’ll provide an all-encompassing overview of host liquor liability insurance, including an explanation of why it should be considered for weddings and some helpful tips on how to discourage overdrinking at weddings.

What is Host Liquor Liability?

Guests will generally expect liquor to be available at weddings and as soon as you become the “host”, you suddenly have a burden of responsibility to ensure that nothing bad happens as a result of being connected to the supply of that alcohol.

A host liquor liability insurance policy will protect you against losses or damages in case of claims arising from any alcohol-related incidents that might occur at an event such as a wedding. Such “incidents” might include bodily injury or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest who was served liquor at a wedding.

Liquor Liability Terms to Know

What is the difference between Primary liquor liability and Host liquor liability coverage? The main difference between these coverages is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the serving of alcohol as a business.

Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas a couple who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a wedding could get host liquor liability insurance.

What does it mean to be “over-served”? This refers to when a customer is served too much alcohol, placing the liability on the bartender. In the US, there is the “Dram Shop Act,” which makes a business which sells alcohol or a host who serves liquor to a drinker who is obviously already intoxicated, strictly liable to anyone injured by the drunken guest. The best protection against a situation like this occurring at your wedding (aside from doing a dry wedding) is to hire an experienced bartender; they generally know when it is time to refuse someone more drinks.

Liquor Laws & Licenses

A liquor license (or licence) is any license, permit, registration, qualification or other approval required to sell, dispense or distribute alcoholic beverages.

Smart Serve Ontario logoIn Canada, multiple provinces require that events (including weddings) that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve or offer alcohol. Regulations vary by province. In Ontario for example, there is Smart Serve and in BC, there is Serving it Right.

In the US, liquor licenses are issued separately by each individual state. In New York for example, there is the New York State Liquor Authority, which offers 30 different permits that can be applied for online. In California, there is the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, where alcoholic beverage licenses can be applied for and obtained. You can get a quick quote and buy online liquor liability insurance in the US.

Alcohol-Fueled Wedding Incidents

More and more, the providers of alcohol are being hit with lawsuits due to alcohol-related accidents at weddings. The venue is usually charged, but the couples holding the wedding are often also named. Examples of alcohol-fueled wedding incidents (where lawsuits may or may not have been involved) include:

In 2018, Daily Mail reported on a wedding in Ludhiana in Punjab, India, where alcohol was being served for free. The wedding day ended in a chaotic brawl (much of it caught on video), with many drunken guests throwing chairs and plates at each other.

In 2014, ABC reported on a wedding in Hobart, Tasmania that ended with the bride in the hospital and the groom and best man under arrest because of an alcohol-fueled brawl at their wedding reception. It took six police units to bring the situation under control.

In 2012, The Telegraph reported that police were called to English soccer player Danny Guthrie’s wedding after a huge brawl broke out on the dance floor. The fight erupted between the groom’s family and the bride’s side as the proceedings neared an end.

None of the above examples indicate that the couple had a host liquor liability insurance policy in place, but it certainly would have been advisable to have one, in all cases.

How to Discourage Overdrinking 

Assuming you’ve ruled out the option of doing a dry wedding (a wedding sans alcohol), consider these tips to reduce your chances of an alcohol-fueled wedding disaster:

  • A cash bar, so guests have to pay at least a small amount
  • Limited drink tickets, perhaps 2 or 3 per guest
  • Wine- and beer-only bar (no hard liquor shots)
  • Hire an experienced bartender (or two)
  • Serve a “midnight snack;” the food will help absorb alcohol
  • Give guests activities rather than a bar alone, e.g., board games, a photo booth, a scavenger hunt, special dances
  • Remove drunk driving as a possibility by providing a shuttle service from the wedding venue back to the hotel where guests are staying

How to Buy Host Liquor Liability Insurance | Liquor Liability Insurance for Wedding

Get started by completing the Event Insurance quote form (Canada), indicating that “Yes, alcohol will be served at the event.” From there, we’ll need to have a third party (usually the wedding venue itself) have their own primary liquor liability policy. This third party must then add you on as an additional insured. This costs an additional premium but is inexpensive and is certainly well worth the effort for the added peace of mind that it brings if you are indeed hosting a wedding where alcohol is being served.

Are you in the US? Wedding insurance in the US can be arranged quickly through our online program. 

Submit a comment