Having a party and gathering all of your family and friends together for some fun and conversation is always exciting. At the same time, you plan to serve alcohol at the party, there are some precautions that you need to take in order to make certain you are protected and are not found liable if any of your guests are injured or killed on the way home.
Considering Social Host Laws When Planning a Party
Every state has some form of social host laws, though the details of these laws vary from state to state. Therefore, it is important for you to look into your state's social laws in order to make certain you are properly protected and that you are not in violation of any of these laws. Regardless of the state, the basics are the same - you can be held responsible for the damages someone occurs when they leave your party if you were serving alcohol to your guests.
Keeping Yourself Protected
Obviously, the easiest way to keep yourself protected is to decide not to serve alcoholic beverages at your party. If this is not an option for you, you might want to consider doing things that will reduce the amount of alcohol your guests drink. Not only will this prevent intoxication, it will also save you money when it comes to the amount of alcohol you purchase for your celebration.
There are several things you can do in order to prevent your guests from getting drunk. If you invite only people that know each other well, for example, they will be more comfortable and less likely to drink in order to "loosen up." If you provide your guests with plenty of activities to keep them busy, they will also be less inclined to drink.
In order to prevent drunk driving, you might want to consider collecting your keys from your guests before they enter your party. That way, you can determine whether or not they are fit to drive before you hand over the keys. Of course, you will also need to remain sober so you can properly judge whether or not to give back keys. You might also want to consider hiring a bartender, since they are trained and identifying when a drinker should be cut off from his or her booze. You can also do things to encourage certain guests to be designated drivers, such as providing all of them with a special gift or entering them to win a door prize. If all else fails, you can make arrangements to drive intoxicated guests home yourself.
The food you serve can also help to prevent intoxication. Foods that are high in protein and starch will help to slow down how quickly your guest's bodies absorb alcohol. You can also offer coffee stations to your guests that include all kinds of goodies to make it appealing, such as flavored powders, toppings, and sauces.
Finally, make certain you have the proper homeowner's insurance in place to keep you covered. While your guests' car insurance should pick up the expenses associated with the accident, there is always a chance that the insurance company will come after you because you served alcohol to that person before he or she drove home. Between your insurance and the car insurance of the guest, you can be properly protected.
Author Resource:-
Shannon Kietzman is a freelance writer and an authority on car insurance issues, including methods for car insurance online. She helps others learn the basics of car insurance so they can make proper and informed decisions when choosing the coverage that is right for them.
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