Allstate Insurance provides tips to football fans to build a good defense against liability risks when having people over to watch the big game.

Mayhem likes more than just college football games - it can show up in many forms when someone hosts a watch party for the big game. So, if you're planning to have a party for the big game this year, you'll want to have the following tips from Allstate and the Insurance Information Institute in your playbook:

  • Make sure you understand your state laws. Before sending out party invitations, familiarize yourself with your state's 'social host liability' laws. These laws vary widely from state to state. Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host's premises. Some extend the host's liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.
  • Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help reduce liquor liability risks.
  • Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
  • Be a responsible host/hostess. Limit your own alcohol intake so that you will be better able to judge your guests' sobriety.
  • Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
  • If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab, arrange a ride with a sober guest or have them sleep at your home.
  • Encourage all your guests to wear seatbelts as they drive home. Studies show that seatbelts save lives.
  • Speak with your insurance agent or company representative about your homeowners coverage and any exclusions, conditions or limitations your policy might have for this kind of risk.

Keeping these tips in mind as you plan for a party can help you make better decisions before the big game. Whether the party is large or small, any host will want to act responsibly to protect friends and family enjoying one the biggest sporting events of the year.

About Allstate CorporationThe Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as the web via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan 'You're In Good Hands With Allstate®.' In 2013, $29 million was given by The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.

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The Allstate Corporation issued this content on 05 February 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 05 February 2016 20:20:10 UTC

Original Document: https://www.allstatenewsroom.com/news/liability-line-football-watch-parties-2/