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November 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

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

Rhode Island
Coverage: Liquor, Optional GL A&B Property Damage
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $60,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 100%
Discounts Applied: Alcohol Awareness Training + Membership Credit + Elite Discount
Total Premium: $1,419

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.

 

10 Ways to Help Prevent Potential Lawsuits
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10 Ways To Help Prevent Potential Lawsuits From Your Company Holiday Party

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:

  1. Your guests get in an automobile accident on the way home, injuring a family of three.
  2. 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.”
  3. 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.

  1. Hold your function earlier in the afternoon when people tend to drink less.
  2. 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.
  3. Offer Uber gift cards or recommend overnight accommodations to guests.
  4. Offer entertainment like dancing, a photo booth, team games or a comedian so people have something to do other than drink.
  5. Invite families. People are less likely to go a little crazy with the spouse or kids at a company holiday party.
  6. Encourage guests to use transportation such as Uber, Lyft or a taxi to and from the party.
  7. Serve food at the event.
  8. Don’t let people serve themselves, hire a trained staff to serve and monitor guests alcohol consumption.
  9. Make sure bartenders and caterers are TIPS certified.
  10. Only offer beer and wine.

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.

by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

October 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

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.

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.

by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

September 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

September 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

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

by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

August 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

August 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

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

 

by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

Why Bars Should Keep Surveillance Footage For Insurance Claims

Why Bars Should Keep Surveillance Footage For Insurance Claims

Why Your Bar Should Have Surveillance (Even If You Don’t Have Thousands Of Dollars To Spend)

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.

If you’re looking for something affordable, we found this Hiseeu Wireless Network security camera has 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon for only $35.

We also found AMCREST Video Security System with Eight Weatherproof Cameras for only $399.

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.

  1. Some cities have passed ordinances that require new alcohol licensees to install surveillance cameras before the establishment can officially open for business.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

July 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

July 2017 Liquor Liability Policies

Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in July 2017 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.

Bar / Billiard Hall in Worcester, Mass
Coverage Needed: GL and LL
Limits: 1M/1M/2M for both GL and LL
Total Sales: $520,000 total sales for bar with an additional $130,000 in sales for the billiard portion
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 70%
Endorsements: GL A&B and Additional Insured on GL policy
Discounts Applied: TIPS & MRA
Total Premium: $2,895 for GL and $12,332 for LL = $15,227

 

Restaurant in Newport, RI
Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $1,435,796
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 42%
Endorsements: Optional GL A&B,Property Damage
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training
– Membership Credit
– Elite Discount Applied
– Loss Free Credit
Total Premium: $6470
 

Craft Beer Establishment with 2 Locations in North Carolina
Live Entertainment
Coverage:  GL & LL
Limits:  1M/1M/2M
Total Sales:  $2,800,000 Clayton/$2,600,000 Garner
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio:  35% Clayton/37% Garner
Endorsements:  GL A & B,  Property Damage
Discounts Applied:
Alcohol Awareness Training
ELITE Discount
Membership Credit (North Carolina Restaurant Lodging Association)
Total Premium:  $25,927

Accidentally Served A Minor
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You Accidentally Served A Minor, Now What?

You Accidentally Served A Minor, Now What?

 In the United States, it is illegal to serve alcohol to someone under the age of 21.  But what if you asked for identification and were provided with a fake id without knowing?

Steps to take upon discovery:

  • Ask the person to leave.
  • Ensure management is notified immediately.
  • Document the incident and include the person’s information (if it’s available) 
  • Call your independent insurance agency or insurance company.

 While every situation is different, consequences can be severe. If found to be in violation of the law, the establishment’s liquor license could be suspended, modified or revoked.  Apcalis 20 mg

Here are a few questions we ask our policyholders when a situation like this is reported that may be useful to include in your internal documentation. 

  1.  Did you ask for proper identification upon entry?
  2. Had the person already consumed alcohol prior to entry?
  3. How many drinks was the minor served at your bar?
  4. How long was the minor in the bar?
  5. What kind of behavior did the minor display at the establishment?
  6. Is there surveillance of the minor at the bar? 

To encourage Hospitality Insurance Group policyholders to provide their staff with effective alcohol-awareness training, we have an approved rate discount of 10% for insureds when 100% of management and at least 75% of non-management alcoholic beverage servers obtain certification in an approved alcohol-awareness program. Cheap Xanax online

 Learn more about our approved training programs or click here to learn about working with Hospitality Insurance Group. 

 Please be advised that the opinions expressed are the views of the author alone and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity and shall not constitute a legal opinion.

Rhode Island Liquor Liability Insurance
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Liquor Liability Insurance Now Mandatory in Rhode Island

Liquor Liability Insurance Now A Mandatory Law in Rhode Island

Effective August 1, 2017

Do you insure liquor stores, restaurants or bars situated in the State of Rhode Island?

Effective August 1st, liquor liability insurance in the state of Rhode Island will become mandatory.

The Rhode Island House and Senate recently passed legislation that will require any applicant or holder of a liquor license to maintain liquor liability and commercial general liability insurance as a condition of renewing a liquor license or applying for a new liquor license. Insurance coverage shall be no less than $300,000.

Obtaining Liquor Liability Insurance Coverage In Rhode Island 

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 or fill out this form to request more information.

If you are a business owner in Rhode Island looking for liquor liability insurance coverage, click here to contact one of our preferred Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island or find answers to some of your frequently asked questions about our insurance coverage here.

Are you a member of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association? RIHA members receive 20% off with Hospitality Insurance Group!

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