What Is Host Liability in a Company?

History

• The concept of host liability comes from dramshop law, which holds sellers of alcohol responsbile for injuries and damage caused by their intoxicated customers after the customer leaves the seller's business.
  
  

Liability

• Host liability means that when an intoxicated person injures someone after he leaves the host's premises, the person he injures can sue the host who sold liquor to the customer. The idea behind the concept is that the host could have prevented the person's injury by refusing to sell liquor to the drunken customer.
  
  

Laws

• Laws about corporate host liability vary from state to state. According to Business.gov, many courts consider employers to have host liability for company-sponsored events where alcohol is served. If you have specific questions about corporate host liability, you should consult an attorney in your area.