Holiday celebrations are back in full swing for many companies, but with festive libations looming, how can event planners minimize your risk? Check out these five tips for ensuring responsible holiday cheer.
by By Kristen Darkow
With holiday events expected to ramp up this season to the highest level since pre-pandemic, it’s time to revisit the issue of alcohol. Holiday parties are a wonderful occasion for coworkers to get together outside of the office, let loose and celebrate a job well done throughout the year. Alcohol can be a fun addition to any holiday celebration, as long as logistics are carefully considered and responsible consumption is encouraged.
While ultimately, responsibility for alcohol liability typically rests on the shoulders of the venue that typically carries the liquor license, as the sponsor of the event, your company is relying on you to protect them – all while encouraging a festive atmosphere for attendees to enjoy. The last thing the company wants is to have sponsored an event where a guest leaves and is involved in an accident or displays questionable, if not, criminal behavior.
Here are five ways to minimize your risk and place emphasis on celebrating the season safely.
Professional and licensed bartenders are trained to handle these things. Not only can they craft the perfect cocktail, but they also can help plan for how to handle underage guests, keep an eye on individuals’ drink totals, limit the number of drinks per guest and even (tactfully) cut someone off. So, if your venue doesn’t already provide professional bartenders (most licensed venues do), find a catering company or business that specializes in providing licensed bartenders for events.
When an event is planned from beginning to end and everything is thought of, there is little room for mishap or potential hiccups. Aside from hiring bartenders or an alcohol service, consider things like the location of the venue, the start time and end time of the event, the amount of food available, and reliable transportation to and from the venue.
There are ways to encourage guests to be safe and responsible. Consider holding the event at or near a hotel so guests don’t have to travel. Create a signature mocktail menu for easy, alcohol-free alternatives. Remind employees of the company culture or handbook policies regarding alcohol consumption at company-sponsored events, prior to the event. Make sure water is accessible at the bar or in coolers around the event space. Provide a variety of snacks or a late-night meal. Offer shuttle services or vouchers for a ride service.
When it comes to having an open bar or a cash bar, consider a somewhere-in-between alternative. Provide each guest with a set number of drink tickets (for example, two) upon arrival. They get two complimentary drinks and have to make an intentional decision to purchase additional drinks. This route may not always be a good fit, but it is a way to potentially limit the number of drinks consumed by each guest, or at least make them think twice before consuming more.
When planning for the evening, make sure to build in time and plan for games, entertainment, speeches, dancing or team-building activities. If there are other things for guests to keep busy with aside from drinking, chances are they’ll be working on their drink longer or have fewer opportunities to make another trip to the bar.
Kristen Darkow is a freelance writer based in Madison, Wisc.