Serving alcoholic beverages is a significant line of revenue for most golf courses. Liability losses could include financial losses as well as reputation damages due to an unfortunate circumstance. Your golf course must have solid policies and procedures established to reduce the chance of a liquor liability claim arising. Also, there are liquor liability laws for those in the business of distributing, selling, or serving alcoholic beverages to comply with.
The Laws Explained
These laws are the guidelines that determine liquor liability:
Dram shop laws establish civil liability for over-service and illegal service of alcohol, such as selling or serving alcohol to an intoxicated individual or a minor.
Alcohol beverage control Acts are similar to dram shop laws, besides the fact that failure to comply results in criminal liability.
Common law or tort law is based on established precedents in which a business selling or serving alcohol is liable when obligated to withhold liquor due to age or intoxication as they proceed to serve this individual who causes or contributes to injuries or damages.
Your Liability
Does your business have a thorough liquor liability control program in place? It is crucial that servers are trained to comply with laws and deal with difficult customers. All servers and bartenders in your establishments should undergo formal training in the matter, and the training should be ongoing to stay up to date. It is your club’s responsibility to be both cautious and prudent. Proactive measures should be established to prevent liquor law violations and ensure the public is in no danger from guests who have consumed alcoholic beverages on the premises.
Loss Control Measures
What policies do you have in place to control loss? Management presence is important in your program. Management must always be present to oversee guest’s alcohol consumption. Plus, it is also smart to conduct consistent audits of the current liquor liability policy and underlying programs periodically. Servers must always be on the lookout for signs of intoxication and be prepared to cut off service to the patron if necessary, and never drink with patrons. To help promote responsible drinking, you may consider serving complimentary nonalcoholic drinks to designated drivers and ensure intoxicated patrons get alternate transportation home. Control “happy hour” activities and avoid any promotion that may encourage heavy drinking. Since food helps to keep intoxication under control, it is a good idea that food is always available to purchase. It is also in your best interest to have a good relationship with local law enforcement officials. If your club has valet parking and maintains possession of the keys, refuse to turn them over to intoxicated patrons. The valet staff should also have completed alcohol awareness training and know how to handle an intoxicated guest.
Visible Signs of Intoxication
How do you monitor customer drinking and behavioral changes? Servers must understand the alcohol content of different drinks and keep track of the amount of alcohol consumed by each customer. The server should know when to offer a guest food and be ready to cut off service before a customer becomes intoxicated.
Management should be promptly informed in accordance with the establishment’s policy when and why someone is refused liquor service.
Because individuals react differently to intoxication, it is not possible to have a foolproof way of identifying an intoxicated guest or a patron. Serving alcohol will always come with impaired judgment, which is why it is so important to have secured Tee to Green Insurance.
It is crucial that the manager on duty completes an incident report each time a liquor incident occurs. Each report should include (but is not limited to) the following information:
- The date and time of the incident
- Names of the servers and manager
- on duty
- Facts about the incident and following actions
- Identification of the intoxicated patron as well as the contact of any witnesses
- Any alternative transportation offered
About T2 Green Insurance
T2Green Insurance provides the best customized and comprehensive protection for your club, resort, or golf management business. Our niche expertise and sole focus is insuring this class, while our industry professionals are dedicated to providing exceptional results so that you can feel confident with your coverage. T2Green offers specialized coverage options that are unique in the industry. With our exclusive program unlike anything else on the market, you can feel peace of mind with protection that is tailored to your club’s unique needs. T2Green is driven by innovation and responsiveness in both coverage solutions and customer service. We understand the challenges that are presented in varying locations and seasons to write policies for clubs from coast to coast and everywhere in between so you can operate with confidence, no matter what conditions arise. Reach us at 844-223-9005 with any questions or so we can begin tailoring a package that works best for your club.
