With Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday this year, craft breweries and taprooms are bracing for one of the busiest nights of the quarter. Couples will be toasting to their relationships, and groups of friends will be out for “Galentine’s” celebrations. While a packed house is great for the bottom line, it also creates a high-pressure environment for your front-of-house staff.
When the taproom is bustling and the music is loud, it is easy to miss the subtle signs of over-consumption. However, for a brewery owner, a single oversight can lead to a devastating legal situation.
The Liability Doesn’t End at the Door
In the insurance world, we often discuss the “long tail” of Liquor Liability. One of the most dangerous misconceptions in the industry is that a business’s responsibility ends once a patron walks out the door. Under “Dram Shop” laws, a commercial establishment can be held liable for damages caused by an intoxicated patron—even after they have left your premises.
Whether it’s a slip-and-fall on the sidewalk or, more seriously, a vehicle accident miles away, your brewery could be named in a lawsuit if it can be proven that you served a guest past the point of intoxication.
The Power of Training: TIPS is Your Best Defense
This Valentine’s Day serves as the perfect case study for why TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) is essential. It isn’t just about “cutting people off”; it’s about giving your servers the confidence and psychological tools to manage a crowd effectively.
TIPS-trained staff are taught to:
- Identify the physical and behavioral signs of intoxication early.
- Slow down service by offering water or food menus.
- De-escalate potentially tense situations with grace.
From an insurance perspective, having a 100% TIPS-certified staff can often earn your brewery significant premium discounts. It proves to underwriters that you are a “best-in-class” risk.
Proactive Risk Mitigation
To protect your business this Friday, consider a Safe Ride Partnership. Reach out to a local rideshare service or taxi company to provide a dedicated “drop-off” point or a promotional code for your guests. Promoting “safe rides” on your social media and table tents doesn’t just show you care about your community—it serves as a powerful defense in showing that you took proactive steps to prevent intoxicated driving.
Enjoy the Valentine’s Day rush, but ensure your staff is prepared to keep the “love” from turning into a liability.
For more than 30 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 offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.
