Monahan Law Blog

During the Holidays, Hosts Can Take these steps for Guests Who've Been Drinking to Prevent Injuries

How to prevent problems

            If you are planning a holiday party, review your insurance policy with your agent to see if you have coverage for any incident that may occur on your property or as a result of actions on your property.  Also, consider hosting your party at a restaurant or bar that has a liquor license, rather than in your home or office.

             Urge anyone planning a holiday party to follow these tips:

(1) Do not drink or, if you drink, limit your alcohol intake so you can track your guests’ alcohol consumption;

(2) Limit your guest list to close friends and family.  It is much easier to track behavior changes in people you know;

(3) Meet and greet all guests when they arrive so you can determine if they drank alcoholic beverages before arriving at your party.  Repeat the process when your guests leave;

(4) Consider collecting keys when your guests arrive to help prevent them from leaving when intoxicated;

(5) Serve all of the drinks yourself and monitor your guests’ consumption.  Also, you might hire a bartender who is trained and knows when to serve alcohol;

(6) Serve lots of food that has protein and fat, as well as filling foods, such as breads and other starches.  When possible, avoid salty foods because they encourage more drinking.  Also, avoid sugar foods because they do not mix well with alcohol;

(7) Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated;

(8) Offer plenty of non-alcoholic drinks;

(9) Schedule entertainment or activities that do not involve alcohol;

(10) Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party is scheduled to end and offer guests coffee throughout the party;

(11) If you did not collect car keys when guests arrived, then encourage an intoxicated guest to give you his car keys.  If necessary, ask a friend to help you persuade an intoxicated guest to take a cab;

(12) Keep the phone numbers of cab companies nearby and tell your guest that you have called a cab.  Don’t give him the option to refuse.

(13) If your guest is highly intoxicated, keep that person with you until they become sober or can be left with a responsible person who is sober.

(14) Offer a heavily intoxicated guest a spare bed.  You need time -- not added fluids or food -- to sober your guest.

(15) If your guest will not give you the car keys or spend the night at your home, then call the police.  While this may seem drastic, the consequences of a drunk driver leaving your home could prove tragic.

Labels: accident drinking driving duty holiday host injury insurance intoxication liability parties party social