How to Get Insurance for a Party With Alcohol in New York City

Because the laws concerning alcohol are different from state to state, knowing what you can and cannot do legally is a little hazy. There are a ton of logistics, even if you just want to throw a simple party with some office friends and a couple bottles of wine. If you know the basic ins and outs of the law, you can plan your party worry free and make sure everyone can have a good time.

Instructions

1. Know your liability. If you serve alcohol at a party and one of the guests gets drunk, gets in his car and has a serious accident, you may be liable for some or all of the damages. Any time you serve alcohol, you are taking on a liability that you may not know about. If you are holding a party in your home, you are liable under the Social Host Law. If you are holding a party "off premises" at a bar or restaurant, or even an event space where there is a bar present, you may be held liable as a third party under the New York Liquor Liability Law. If this is the type of party you are thinking about throwing, you or your caterer should have insurance.

2. Determine which type of special event insurance is right for your event. Policies vary, just as auto or home insurance policies. The coverage can go from the very minimal, to all-inclusive; the price will reflect this. Your coverage and price will vary from policy to policy depending on what exactly you will be serving at your function. If you are serving only wine and beer at a function in New York, your liability will be lower If you are also serving hard alcohol, your liability will go up. You may also have to apply for a license to serve the hard alcohol.

3. Don't be afraid to card at your home. If you are throwing a party at your home, you are still liable under the Social Host Law. It is very similar to the New York Liquor Liability Law, but its articles are especially stringent about serving alcohol to minors in a private home. If you are having a party and someone who you think is not of age yet wants to drink, ask for ID, plain and simple. It may be strange at first, but you are the one who will pay in the long run if you don't. Some Homeowners Insurance policies will cover you to a limited extent, but you must ask your insurance representative for specifics.

4. If you have limited coverage at home, get a personal umbrella policy. It can be taken out short term (just for the holiday/party season) to give you extra support and coverage if you are planning on having one or more get togethers that you are concerned about. Think of it as upgrading your car insurance from a simple liability plan to a full collision plan. It may cost a little extra, but it will cost a whole lot less than a day in court if you happen to get sued by someone who has an accident after your party.