Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in January 2018 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.
Bar/Grille in Beverly, MA
Mono-line Liquor
1000/1000/2000
$1,141,000 total receipts
50% liquor/food
Loss Free/ AA Credit
$10,154
Night Club & Function Hall
Fall River, Mass
Coverage Needed: GL and LL
Limits: GL: 1M/2M and LL: 1M/2M
Total Sales: GL: Club 4500 (Area) and Function Hall 3375 (Area) LL: $107,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 100%
Endorsements: GL A&B
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training
Total Premium: GL: $2,355 and LL: $3,896 for a total of $6,251
Lounge in North Carolina
Coverage: Liquor Liability
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: 166,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 0%
Endorsements: GL A & B, Property Damage
Discounts Applied:
Alcohol Awareness Training
Membership Credit North Carolina Restaurant Lodging Association
Total Premium: $3969
Restaurant in New Haven, CT
Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $660,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 16.67%
Endorsements: Additional Insured
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training – Yes
– Membership Credit (INSERT MEMBERSHIP NAME) No
– Elite Discount Applied No
Total Premium: $ 2,016
If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.
Bar Room Brawls: 3 Assault & Battery Situations That Could Happen At Any Bar
For any establishment that serves alcoholic beverages, a fight possibly breaking out is always in the back of any owner’s mind.
According to Insurance Magazine, about 30% of losses at bars, taverns, and nightclubs arise from assault and battery claims.
Out of the thousands and thousands of claims filed, here are three situations we’ve worked with our policyholders when an assault and battery occurred at their establishment.
Case #1
A patron alleged that he was repeatedly assaulted while exiting the establishment after the last call.
The policyholder had purchased an assault and battery endorsement as part of their liquor liability policy issued by Hospitality Insurance Group.
The defense attorney, hired by Hospitality to defend the establishment against this plaintiff’s lawsuit, obtained a defense verdict on behalf of the policyholder.
Case #2
This establishment was not the type of bar that you would think would have an altercation of any sort.
A gentleman entered our insured’s establishment and was served a single drink.
During the night, the gentlemen casually conversed with other patrons until he randomly started violently attacking patrons with weapons concealed underneath his sweatshirt.
None of the injured customers could recall any signs that would have forewarned them of the assailant’s violent propensity.
This incident was a sudden and unforeseen violent crime that occurred on the insured’s premise and was covered by the assault and battery endorsement on their liquor liability policy, issued by Hospitality Insurance Group.
Case #3
A patron appeared to have entered our policyholder’s establishment already intoxicated.
While inside, the man was said to have disturbed three different groups of patrons and was later struck by a patron inside the bar, causing him to fall and suffer a head trauma.
This policyholder had purchased an assault and battery endorsement as part of their liquor liability policy issued by Hospitality Insurance Group. The defense attorney, hired by Hospitality to defend the establishment against the plaintiff’s lawsuit, obtained a defense verdict on the policyholder’s behalf.
As also advised by Nightclub & Bar, general liability insurance with assault and battery and liquor liability coverage is usually the best way for restaurant owners to protect themselves in the event of a fight at their business.
When examining your insurance policy, it’s important to ask if you have assault and battery coverage. It’s not uncommon for an insurance carrier to apply a specialized exclusion for assault & battery exposure as we explain in our blog, “Assault & Battery: Where’s the coverage?” Exclusions may occur, and in the event of a bar fight breaking out, a restaurant owner could be denied coverage if an incident like one of these occurs.
Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in December 2017 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.
Lawrence, MA
Coverage: LL
Limits: 250/500/500
Total Sales: $265,000 Liquor + $32,000 Food = $297,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 89%
Endorsements: GL A&B
Discounts Applied: Alcohol Awareness Credit
Total Premium: $6,148
If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.
Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in November 2017 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.
North Carolina
Coverage: GL & LL
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $3,783,590
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 61%
Endorsements: GL A&B, Property Damage
Discounts Applied: Alcohol Awareness Training + Membership Credit
Total Premium: $63,182
If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.
Tis the season for holiday parties, eggnog and late nights. We attend the ugly sweater parties, the family traditions, and most common, attending the annual work party. Many companies spend weeks, even months, planning their holiday party. They plan everything from where the event will take place down to the type of silverware placed on the table. However, one aspect of the event planning people tend to forget is liquor liability insurance.
Most would like to think their guests are mature, responsible adults who know their limit.
During the holidays that thought process tends to escape the mind of most people. 20% of survey respondents in a 2010 survey by Forbes have said they had too much to drink at a holiday party. We see results of this every year on the news of that one person who made the mistake of getting behind the wheel after a holiday party and taking the life of another driver in fatal car accident. Many think the only person responsible for this accident is the driver, but in many cases, attorneys will sue anyone who may have been responsible including the host, owners, event planners, bartenders, and servers.
Issues arising from the company holiday party could be extreme and some could be just plain embarrassing.
Three possible extreme scenarios include:
Your guests get in an automobile accident on the way home, injuring a family of three.
You or one of your guests is injured during the festivities like this scenario in an article by National Public Radio, “At an office party four years ago, a fellow co-worker brought eggnog that contained whiskey, Scotch, as well as bourbon. … It was delicious and the booze was nigh-undetectable. Everyone became incredibly sloshed. … As the night progressed, someone made a makeshift slip-and-slide in the warehouse that was quite fun until the IT guy of the office broke his collarbone going face first and 911 was called. We still talk about this office party to this day.”
Damage to the property from someone allegedly being overserved.
So how do you keep things under control? Here are 10 ways to help prevent a lawsuit from arising from your company holiday party.
Hold your function earlier in the afternoon when people tend to drink less.
There is a reason Fenway park stops serving alcohol after the seventh inning stretch. They are thinking about the safety of their guests and you should too. Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the party is expected to end. Cut off drinks during dinner or dessert to give people a rest from consuming.
Offer Uber gift cards or recommend overnight accommodations to guests.
Offer entertainment like dancing, a photo booth, team games or a comedian so people have something to do other than drink.
Invite families. People are less likely to go a little crazy with the spouse or kids at a company holiday party.
Encourage guests to use transportation such as Uber, Lyft or a taxi to and from the party.
Serve food at the event.
Don’t let people serve themselves, hire a trained staff to serve and monitor guests alcohol consumption.
Without liquor liability insurance, you can be held responsible and sued for allowing them to become intoxicated and proceeding to operate a vehicle.
Do you still think liquor liability isn’t a necessity?
Laws regarding liquor licenses and liquor liability coverage vary by state, so it is important to be aware of the laws in your state before planning an event where alcohol is going to be served.If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers. If you are a business owner looking for liquor liability insurance coverage, click here to contact one of our preferred Independent Insurance Agents or find answers to some of your frequently asked questions about our insurance coverage here.
Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in October 2017 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.
Type of Establishment: Restaurant, New Bedford, MA
Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability
Limits: 250/500/500
Total Sales: $400,000 (Liquor) + $400,000 (Food) = $800,000 Total
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 50%
Endorsements: None
Discounts Applied:
Alcohol Training Credit
Total Premium: $5,360
Type of Establishment in Harrisville, RI
Coverage Needed: Liquor – Optional GL A&B – Property Damage
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: 989,657
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio:36%
Endorsements: Additional Insured
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training- Yes
– Elite Discount Applied
Total Premium: $3698
North Carolina
Live Entertainment
Coverage: LL
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $2,000,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 45%
Endorsements: GL A&B Property Damage
Discounts Applied: Alcohol Awareness Training + Membership Credit
Total Premium: $6,084
If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.
See how Hospitality Insurance Group provided the protection our policyholder needed to remain in business! Just another example of how Hospitality Insurance Group Serves You; Allowing You to Serve Others. Learn more about doing business with us and request a quote for coverage.
Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in September 2017 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.
Wine & Chocolate Tasting One-Day Temporary Event Boston
Limits: GL & LIQ 1M/1M/2M
Bartending Service in NH Mono-Line LIQ
New Venture with prior experience
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Premium: $1,277
Social Club in Littlestown, PA
Coverage Needed:
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales:$745K
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 66%
Endorsements: GL A&B Buy back
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training
– PA Taverns Membership Discount
Total Premium: $9,438
Bar/Tavern in Lawrence, MA
Coverage Needed: Package with Liquor
Limits: CP: Business Personal Property $200,000 with ACV at 80% co-insurance; GL; 1M/2M; LL: 500/1M
Total Sales: $80,000 Liquor + $20,000 Food = $100,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 80%
Endorsements: LL: GL A&B Endorsement and Property Damage
Discounts Applied: Alcohol Awareness Credit;
Total Premium: $5,752 (CP $2,930 + LL $2,822) = $5,752
Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in August 2017 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.
Irish Pub in Lancaster, PA Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability Limits: 1M/1M/2M Total Sales: $3,750,000 Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 47% Endorsements: N/A Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training
– Membership Credit (PA Taverns Association Membership)
– Elite Discount Applied Total Premium: $21,484
Bar in Jacksonville, NC Live Entertainment Coverage: CP, GL & LL Limits: 1M/1M/2M Total Sales: $2,156,000 Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 40% Endorsements: GL A & B, Property Damage Discounts Applied:
Alcohol Awareness Training
ELITE Discount
Membership Credit (North Carolina Restaurant Lodging Association) Total Premium: $15,672
Bar in Chicopee, MA Coverage Needed: CP, GL and LL Limits: CP: Business Personal Property $100,000 – 80% at Replacement Cost; Business Income $160,000 – 80%; Spoilage $10,000 GL: 1M/1M with $180,000 total sales, 1 Additional Insured and Hired and Non-Owned Auto Liability LL: 1M/2M with $160,000 liquor sales, 1 Additional Insured Total Sales: $180,000 Total sales – $160,000 of this total was liquor sales Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 89% Endorsements: GL: Hired and Non-Owned Auto and Additional Insured LL: GL A&B, Property Damage, and Additional Insured Discounts Applied: LL: Mass Restaurant Association Total Premium: CP: $1,877; GL: $1,888; LL: $6,131 – Total Package with Liquor: $9,896
Restaurant in Newton Center Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability only Limits: 1M/1M/2M Total Sales: $2,686,000 total – $1,040,000 of this is liquor only Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 39% Endorsements: GL A&B, Property Damage and Additional Insured Discounts Applied: TIPS (alcohol awareness credit) and Mass Restaurant Association Total Premium: $10,681
Why Bars Should Keep Surveillance Footage For Insurance Claims
Every bar owner wants to prevent a liquor liability claim from occurring which is why having surveillance footage is invaluable should an incident be alleged.
Fights, theft, and vandalism are all unfortunate responsibilities of a restaurant owner. In addition to security and staff training, having a surveillance system installed is one thing that can protect you from a possible lawsuit that could potentially shut down your entire operation.
Many will agree that when surveillance is installed and noticeable by patrons, behavior amongst patrons tends to change. Some cities have even passed ordinances that require new alcohol licensees to install surveillance cameras before the restaurant can officially open for business.
At Hospitality Insurance Group, once a claim is filed, one of the first questions our Claims Examiner will ask is if there is any surveillance footage on the date of the incident. So if the inevitable does happen, having proper surveillance footage can make your life, and your insurer’s life, a lot easier.
We even send a claim acknowledgment letter to policyholders once a claim is reported instructing them to preserve tapes and other evidence relating to the case because around 70% – 75% of policyholders do not preserve their tapes.
If something happens at the bar, the insured should review and safeguard the tape until the statute of limitations runs out, which is usually around three years.
But what happens if you’re a small operation? One common objection we hear from our bar and restaurant policyholders is, “My restaurant is tiny! I don’t have that kind of money to spend on surveillance!”
You’re in luck.
Thanks to the wonderful world of online shopping, surveillance footage is even easier and more affordable than ever. We took a look at Amazon.com and found surveillance equipment, many of which can be monitored right from your smartphone.
Whichever system that you may find is the best fit for your bar, restaurants and bar owners should take note of the loop setting as some systems preserve footage for 5 days, 7 days or 30-day loop prior to footage being taped over.
Fights, theft, and vandalism are all unfortunate responsibilities of a business owner. In addition to security and staff training, having a surveillance system installed is one thing that can protect you from a possible lawsuit that could potentially shut down your entire operation.
Some cities have passed ordinances that require new alcohol licensees to install surveillance cameras before the establishment can officially open for business.
Be sure to preserve surveillance tapes for at least three years and store the footage on a thumb drive, hard drive or back up to the cloud.
Even if you’re a small operation, there are various surveillance systems on Amazon starting at $35 that would help keep you from going out of business!
Roughly 75% of our policyholders do not preserve their surveillance tapes after the claim has been reported to our team. Failure to save video can increase the payout of a claim up to $200,000 per claim.
IF something happens at your establishment, you should review and safeguard the surveillance tapes until the statute of limitations runs out, which is usually around three years.
IF you are aware of any incidents such as the police were called, a fight happened in the establishment, or a drunk driving incident – these are situations where we look to you to provide us that surveillance footage during the claims process.
We recommend testing your surveillance system regularly to ensure that your system is functioning and working correctly.
Surveillance footage is evidence.Policyholders can face harsh penalties if evidence is lost, destroyed or erased following an incident.
Download our “What You Need To Know About Keeping Your Surveillance Footage For Insurance Claims Against Your Business” flyer here.
Please be advised that the views expressed are of the author alone and shall not constitute a legal opinion.
For any establishment that serves alcoholic beverages, a fight possibly breaking out is always in the back of any owner’s mind. 
