Summer is almost upon us! And, with it comes a plethora of exciting community events: barbecues, pool parties, music in the park concerts, movie nights, and so much more! During the summer, it may be tempting to serve alcohol at HOA events.
However, serving alcohol at HOA-sponsored events comes with great responsibilities as there are many serious consequences if something should go wrong. Please remember that it is in your HOA’s best interests to avoid serving alcohol at an HOA event altogether for liability reasons.
If your HOA plans on serving alcohol, consider:
- Where it is and who will be attending (i.e. minors).
- The security of the event.
- A liquor license. Or, hire a caterer or bartender with insurance and a liquor license.
- Creating a safe environment. Limit each person’s alcohol consumption to two drinks.
- Holding a BYOB (bring your own beverage) event. In some cases, allowing homeowners to bring their own drinks to an HOA event can mitigate the risk to the HOA because the HOA will not be directly responsible for the types of beverages their guests will consume.
Serving alcohol at some of your classier HOA events may be tempting, but it is quite a complicated and potentially problematic way to draw homeowners to your community events. As an equally fun alternative, your HOA might consider serving virgin margaritas, soda-and-sherbet floats, and fresh fruit punches. These drinks look elegant, are family-friendly, and add an exquisite flavor to your events without any of the risks of alcoholic beverages.
