Liquor Liability Insurance for Caterers
Shield your catering business from alcohol-related claims and get comprehensive liability coverage from FLIP!
Benefits of Alcohol Catering Insurance
Get A+ Rated, Customizable Coverage
Our policy isn’t just highly rated — you can personalize it to suit your needs with optional add-on coverages.
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No need to speak with an agent or wait for your quote! Fill out our 100% online application and enjoy same-day coverage.
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Immediate access to your Certificate of Insurance + free, unlimited additional insureds = more alcohol catering opportunities for you.
What Is Liquor Catering Insurance?
Liquor liability insurance for catering businesses protects you from alcohol-related liability claims, including:
- Bodily injury
- Property damage
- Assault and battery (if you include this add-on coverage)
Most caterers who serve alcohol are not financially prepared for the burden of a liquor liability claim, which can cost tens — or even hundreds — of thousands of dollars. Liquor catering insurance can cover some or all of these expenses, allowing you to keep operating despite any hiccups.
How Does Liquor Catering Insurance Work?
This coverage protects your business through a combination of essential coverages. By combining general liability, product liability, and liquor liability insurance, our policy offers comprehensive protection from both alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related claims.
If a covered claim happens, your policy can help pay for expenses like:
- Third-party medical bills
- Third-party property repairs and replacements
- Attorney’s fees
- Settlements
- Judgments
Expand your coverage even further if you include these optional add-ons:
How Much Does Liquor Catering Insurance Cost?
Prices can vary depending on whether you need annual or event coverage and whether you have an existing general liability policy. You must have general liability coverage to purchase liquor liability insurance.
We have two options to choose from that allow you to bundle both coverages:
- General Liability + Liquor Liability starts at $37.75 per month
- General Liability + Liquor Liability Event starts at $150 per event
If you already have a general liability policy, you can choose from the following two options for liquor liability insurance:
- Liquor Liability Annual starts at $25 per month
- Liquor Liability Event starts at $100 per event
These are base prices and can vary depending on:
- The state you operate in
- Your annual gross income
- The limits you select
- The length of coverage
Whether you need alcohol event insurance for a one-time gig or consistent coverage throughout the year, you’ll find what you need with FLIP.
Learn More About Liquor Liability Insurance for Catering
FLIP: The Best Alcohol Catering Insurance Provider
Coverage Details
General Liability
Aggregate Limit: $2,000,000
General liability is an essential coverage for all businesses, protecting you from the cost of third-party bodily injury and property damage claims.
Product Liability
Aggregate Limit: $2,000,000
Food poisoning and unlabeled allergens are common claims for food and beverage businesses. Product liability insurance can cover the associated costs.
Liquor Liability
Aggregate Limit: $2,000,000
Liquor liability is critical coverage if you serve, sell, or provide alcohol. Third-party claims involving alcohol are not covered by general liability insurance, but liquor liability is designed to cover the costs of these claims.
Products-Completed Operations
Aggregate Limit: $2,000,000
This coverage is twofold: it shields you against claims involving your products and services. It can cover the cost of food poisoning claims, as well as legal fees you may have to pay if a client sues you for canceling last-minute.
Personal and Advertising Injury
Aggregate Limit: $1,000,000
If you accidentally make a false claim in your advertising, this coverage can pay for your legal fees. It can also cover expenses stemming from defamation and copyright infringement claims.
Damage to Premises Rented
Aggregate Limit: $300,000
If you rent a commercial kitchen or other space for your business operations, this coverage can pay for accidental damages you make to it during the first seven days. After those seven days, it only covers fire damage, but your general liability insurance can respond to those property damage claims.
Free & Unlimited Additional Insureds
An additional insured is any business, property owner, or event organizer that requires you to extend your insurance coverage to them. Add them at any time for no extra charge.
Assault & Battery (Optional)
Aggregate Limit: $25,000
This add-on coverage helps with the costs related to threatened or real injury or property damage. Costs can include attorney fees, medical fees, and property replacement.
Why Caterers Who Serve Alcohol Choose FLIP
Here's what other entrepreneurs say about their experience from 300+ available reviews.
FAQs About Catering Liquor Insurance
Do I Need Separate Liquor Liability Insurance in Addition to My General Liability Insurance?
Yes! General liability insurance does not cover alcohol-related claims — only liquor liability insurance can do that.
If you already have a catering insurance policy through us (which includes general liability coverage), you can purchase a standalone liquor liability insurance policy. However, if you don’t have an active general liability policy, you must purchase both.
Do I Need Liquor Liability Insurance if I Rent or Provide Alcohol Through a Third Party?
If you hire a third party to serve alcohol at your event, such as a mobile bar service, you need a host liquor insurance policy. The third party should carry a liquor liability policy, since they sell and serve alcoholic beverages, but you need liability protection as the host, too.
Do Caterers Need Liquor Liability Insurance?
If your catering business serves alcohol, you need liquor liability insurance. You can be held legally liable for an intoxicated customer’s actions in 42 states because of dram shop laws. Even if you live in a state without dram shop laws, you can still be sued over damages and injuries caused by your patrons.
Additionally, many event planners will require you to carry liquor liability insurance to operate on their property. If your business is responsible for an alcohol-related accident, they don’t want to be held liable for those expenses.
What Are the Risks of Serving Liquor as a Caterer?
Serving liquor opens your catering business up to many risks, such as:
- A guest has one too many flutes of champagne at their friend’s retirement party. They drive home, lose control of their vehicle, and strike a pedestrian. You’re held liable for the medical fees.
- While catering a corporate party at a high-end hotel, an intoxicated guest trips, knocks over, and breaks a hotel decoration. The hotel holds you liable for the damages.
- Your business caters for a bachelor party. Two of the groomsmen get drunk and start a barroom brawl. This leads to another guest getting injured as they dive out of the way. You’re held liable for their medical bills.*
In each scenario, caterer liquor liability insurance could help cover some or all of your out-of-pocket expenses, saving you thousands of dollars.
*Requires Assault and Battery coverage
