As the holiday season approaches, many companies across Florida begin to prepare for annual celebrations with coworkers and staff. Although these parties can make for memorable events that bring teams closer together, it’s important to ensure you have appropriate safety measures in place. Keep the following in mind as you plan your get-together:
- Never serve alcohol to minors: No matter the occasion, a company should never provide an alcoholic beverage to someone who is not at least 21 years old. Whether through maintaining a guest list or checking IDs, your party should have a way of ensuring each guest who receives an alcoholic beverage is of legal drinking age.
- Don’t serve guests who are visibly intoxicated: Companies that host holiday parties or other celebrations should have a protocol in place to identify and discontinue beverage service to guests who are visibly intoxicated. You can do this by hiring professional bartenders, having your event at a location with trained catering staff or using a ticket system that allows each participant a maximum number of drinks.
- Provide alternative transportation: If there is going to be alcohol served at a company party, it’s wise to provide alternative forms of transportation for guests who may not be able to safely drive home. Many companies arrange for taxis or provide guests with prepaid vouchers for a car service. Above all, it is important to stress the importance of assigning designated drivers and refraining from drunk driving.
- Ensure a safe party space: Before a party begins, consider performing a sweep of the premises to ensure there is nothing broken or dangerous. As a party carries on throughout the night, small hazards could become serious risks — especially if alcohol is involved. It’s always better to proactively handle any dangers.
For more information on premises liability issues, consult the experienced personal injury attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh in Bradenton, Florida.