What is my liability if I serve alcohol at a party I am hosting in my house?

I have a non-profit organization, and I want to organize a party to celebrate my first year in business. How can I serve alcohol at the event, while protecting myself. Also, I am asking for donations to pay for the food and drinks. Does this change my liability in any way shape or form?Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

It all depends on which state your are in. Some states have laws, generally called Dram Shop Acts, that specifically regulate liability for the furnishing of alcohol. Some states broadly interpret these laws to apply to private parties while other limit liability to bars and other public establishments. In some states, there is no liability for the furnishing of alcohol. Bottom line: you need to check the law in your state.

For a short, general summary, see http://liquor.legalview.com/articles/577...

hire a professional bartender. If you serve alcohol, and a guest overindulges, drives and kills someone, you could be held liable. Who pays is immaterial if its under your auspices as the organizer.

You have no liablity in just serving alcohol at a party. Those who do not properly behave in drinking the liquor are the ones liable under the law.

The way the law works where I live is if you serve it you are 100% responsible for what happens as a result. So please make sure that NO ONE gets over served and have a few designated drivers.

Assuming you are in one of those states where any liability would attach to you, it may be helpful to add to the discussion that the way in which you may be liable is usually going to be that of a negligence theory. That is to say, if you provide additional alchohol to someone obviously enebriated, who then drives drunk, you might be held liable.

If bartenders and bars can now be sued for those who overindulge, you can also. I wouldn't serve drinks, I'd make it a BYOB (bring your own), that way they would possibly be liable.