Company Events and Alcohol - Publicity Your Company Doesn't Need

I was reading my local paper last week and a story caught my eye. The story is important as we get into the last three months of the year and into the holiday season.

This is about company events where alcohol is served. Business owners face potential liability for employee injuries or injuries to others caused by intoxicated employees. But, business owners must also think about guests and... the potential for bad public relations and image.

A local guy was driving home when he thought (he claimed later) he had hit a chuckhole. He drove on for twenty more minutes before being pulled over by the police. He had hit a bicyclist--not a chuckhole. The bicyclist later died. The driver is a prominent business owner. He was given a blood test and police concluded alcohol was not an issue.

Except, it is an issue because the driver was returning from a "function" at a world-renowned medical center here in town. While there, he reported to police, he had one drink. The accident occurred at night--about four hours after business hours. It is an issue because the driver's company's name and the name of the medical center are in the news associated with this accident. Newspaper reports of alcohol being served at the function and to this driver have received front page coverage. This is publicity neither company needs and, in the case of the medical facility, is far removed from the company's public persona of standing for health and wellness.

I have addressed holiday party liquor liability before in this blog. As we move into the last three months of 2008 and the holiday season, intelligently consider the risk your company undertakes when it sponsors events where alcohol is served.