Beall Brewery Insurance reports that liquor liability ranks in the three most severe craft brewery losses, according to data from The Hanover Insurance Group.
Liquor liability incidents can lead to legal action, financial repercussions, damage to the brewery’s reputation, and—worst of all—injury or death of intoxicated patrons or those who come into contact with them.
In addition to developing a policies and procedures manual clearly outlining actions to keep customers and staff safe, the key to managing liquor liability is ensuring staff is trained so that they are knowledgeable about liquor liability issues.
Training can take place at the brewery or off-site in a paid program such as LEAD (Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs) or TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS). However you choose to train your employees, be sure that they learn about:
- Administrative, criminal, and civil liability
- Local ordinances
- State laws and regulations pertaining to
- Underage drinking
- DUI (driving under the influence) laws
- Hours of operation
- Signs and stages of intoxication
- Age identification
- Prevention and intervention
- Server responsibility for guest safety
- Brewery policies
- How to handle intoxicated guests, illegal activities, and potentially violent situations
Liquor liability insurance can protect a brewery facing a claim after a traffic accident or other incident—but it is far better to eliminate the opportunity for such claims to be filed in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a barrel of great craft beer.
For more than 25 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of niche businesses, such as craft breweries, that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With California offices in Redlands and Newport Beach, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.
