Bar Insurance

Owners of bars, taverns, and pubs invest a great deal of both money and time into their establishments. Without sufficient protection, everything that's been invested in an establishment could be lost in a single incident. 

Bar insurance helps protect the investments that owners make in bars, taverns, and pubs from many potential risks. Bar insurance (also known as tavern insurance) is a type of commercial insurance that's uniquely designed to meet the insurance needs of bars, taverns, and pubs. 

Insurance for bars and taverns typically come in package policies that combine several individual coverages into a single policy. 

Bars, taverns, pubs, and similar establishments should consider getting tavern insurance. While the coverages that tavern policies provide can sometimes be purchased separately, getting them through a package policy that's tailor-made for a drinking establishment is typically easier and more affordable. 

Restaurants and nightclubs that serve adult beverages may also need many of the protections that are offered by tavern policies. Most restaurants and clubs will be better off getting a restaurant- or club-specific policy, though. 

The individual coverages that tavern policies contain are frequently customized for a bar, tavern, or pub's particular situation. Therefore, policies' exact coverages often vary a little. 

Nevertheless, there are many coverages that policies usually make available as either standard or operational protections. These coverages can be categorized into commercial property and commercial liability coverages. 

Commercial property coverages help protect property, inventory, and equipment that a bar, tavern, or pub owns. Some common commercial property coverages that bar policies often offer include:

• Building coverage
• Contents coverage
• Food contamination coverage
• Equipment breakdown coverage
• Commercial liability

Some common commercial liability coverages that bar policies frequently make available include:

• General liability coverage: Used in many industries to protect businesses from a variety of risks.
• Product liability coverage: Might cover incidents in which a food-borne illness is spread by an establishment's food or beverages.
• Liquor liability coverage: May cover claims seeking compensation for damage or injuries caused by an intoxicated patron that an establishment served.
• Assault and battery coverage: Might cover injuries that patrons sustain during a physical confrontation that occurs on an establishment's property.
• Umbrella liability coverage: A supplemental form of insurance that may build on the protections offered by other coverages. 

Bar liability insurance is essential to protect against potential liabilities from accidents, injuries, damages, and lawsuits that could occur on the premises. As you can see, it includes coverage for incidents like slips and falls, alcohol-related claims, and property damage. 

Liquor liability insurance protects a bar against claims that occur as a result of serving alcohol to patrons. This can include accidents or injuries caused by intoxicated patrons. 

As you can imagine, this type of coverage is crucial for bars. Restaurants and clubs that serve alcohol should also consider a separate liquor liability coverage for peace of mind. 

The cost of bar insurance varies based on factors such as location, size of the establishment, types of services offered, and the history of claims. Generally, bar insurance can range from a few thousand dollars to over ten thousand dollars per year. 

Reducing insurance costs can be achieved by implementing safety measures, training staff on responsible alcohol service, installing security systems, and maintaining a clean claim history. 

It's important to consider all sides of your business when tailoring a bar insurance plan, including alcohol-related accidents, customers getting sick from food or drinks, property damage, equipment malfunction, and even theft or vandalism. 

An experienced agent can explain your options and help to make sure you have everything covered by the best bar insurance carrier. 

Most tavern insurance does not include workers' compensation insurance. Policies normally also don't provide health or disability insurance. Establishments that need or want these insurance policies normally purchase them separately, as stand-alone policies. 

Common exclusions in bar insurance policies might include claims related to intentional damage caused by the owner or employees, damages due to natural disasters (unless specifically covered), and incidents occurring outside of business hours if not covered by the policy. 

Work with an experienced insurance agent or broker who specializes in commercial insurance for bars and taverns to ensure your business is fully covered.