Insurance for bars and taverns.

Liquor liability, general liability, property, and workers’ comp for bars, taverns, and pubs, with a close look at the assault and battery terms many bar policies limit.

What bars and taverns usually carry

Liquor liability
General liability, $1M / $2M
Assault and battery
Property and equipment
Business income
Workers’ comp
Umbrella

Watch for these in a bar policy

Assault and batteryMany bar policies exclude fights outright or cap them at a small sublimit. A brawl in the parking lot or a bouncer’s takedown is one of the most common bar claims.
Defense inside the limitSome liquor policies pay legal fees out of the limit, so every hour a lawyer bills leaves less for a settlement.
Late hours and entertainmentClosing after midnight, live music, dancing, and drink specials all change how a bar is rated. An activity you did not list can be excluded.
Door staffBouncers from a security company should carry their own policy and name you. Carriers often ask how your own door staff are trained.
Games and attractionsMechanical bulls, axe throwing, and similar attractions are excluded on some policies. List everything guests can do, not just what they drink.

What landlords and licensing boards ask bars and taverns for

Liquor liabilitySome licensing boards want proof of it before they issue or renew a liquor license.
Additional insuredLandlords ask to be named on the general liability and on the liquor policy.
Assault and battery limitSome leases require fights to be covered at the same limit as everything else.
UmbrellaIt has to sit over your liquor liability too. Many umbrellas leave liquor out unless it is listed underneath.

Questions bars and taverns ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

How is bar insurance priced?

Liquor liability is usually rated on alcohol sales, so the split between drinks and food matters. Closing time, entertainment, security, and past claims move it from there.

Is a fight in my bar covered?

Only if your policy includes assault and battery. Many bar policies exclude it or give back a smaller limit, so it is one of the first lines we read on any quote.

What is dram shop liability?

Many states let someone hurt by an intoxicated customer sue the bar that served them. Liquor liability is the coverage that defends and pays those claims.