Holiday dinner party.

December 6, 2024

Mitch’s insurance tips for being a safe holiday host this year

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Planning to host a holiday party this year? A big responsibility, sure, but one that comes with so many pay-offs. Just make sure you’re taking cautionary measures when hosting to keep your guests safe and ensure everyone enjoys themselves. 

Insurance can play a significant role in keeping us safe when we choose to host holiday gatherings—or even just plan to celebrate the holidays at all. Here’s Mitch’s top insurance tips for the holiday season. 

Before you host

Insurance is a great back-up plan for if things go wrong, plus it can give you the peace-of-mind you may need to go about your hosting duties without worry of an expensive lawsuit. All the same, nothing beats preventative measures to help mitigate or even avoid potential mishaps before your event starts. 

As the homeowner you’re responsible for the safety of your guests. You could be sued for damages, injuries, or property loss if something happens on the premises. If you’re serving alcohol at your event, that only heightens the risk of something going wrong.  

So, before you host a holiday party, make sure to do the following: 

  • If it’s been snowing, make sure to remove all ice and snow from your home’s walkway and driveway. Shovel and use road salts. 
  • If you plan on serving alcohol, ensure everyone has a safe ride home or that guest rooms are available for those who don’t. Never serve alcohol to minors.  
  • Ensure that all holiday decor inside and outside the home is not a tripping hazard. 
  • Be aware of all guest allergies or restrictions when serving food. 
  • Keep pets safely contained, away with a sitter, or in a separate room. Events can be stressful, or pets could even escape in the hubbub of guests coming and going. 

Fire and candle safety

Sparklers at a holiday party.

Fire safety is important for everyone, especially during the holiday season. Home insurance may cover accidental fires, but it’s better to avoid a mishap altogether than have to risk anyone’s safety. 

The Government of Canada has its own list of health and safety risks associated with candles. Around the holidays, we often light more candles than usual—if not for celebrating, than sometimes simply because it’s darker at this time of year. This only multiplies the existing risk of human error causing candle fires. 

So, what to do? Well, here’s our top tips: 

  • Avoid leaving burning candles unattended in a room. This includes leaving the room to cook, attend to guests, or especially to go to sleep. 
  • Never burn candles adjacent to or near to things that can potentially catch fire. Bedding, curtains, mattresses, decorations, clothing, etc., are all a fire risk. 
  • Leaving candles within reach of young children or even pets. 

The Government of Canada also notes that between 1999 and 2008, candles were responsible for roughly 800 fires each year. This resulted in a yearly average of eight fire deaths, 115 fire injuries, and over $26 million in property damage. 

Candle fires are almost always caused by human error, and Health Canada has reported that candles with multiple wicks can increase the risk of fire. This is because, when all the wicks are lit, it produces an extremely intense heat which is likelier to ignite nearby materials. Candles with added decorations of ribbons, paper, or that have outer layers of non-wax can also be dangerous. 

Awareness around liquor

You are legally responsible if anything goes awry because of serving liquor at your event. While hosting an event at your home is much different than a large, commercial establishment, you could still face a liability claim if you overserved a guest only to have them drive and get into an accident. 

Mindfulness around liquor is key here. Yes, once again your insurance may help cover you if you’re responsible for guests who overdrink at an event you’re hosting, but it’s better not to get into those kinds of situations to start. They can have serious consequences. 

We recommend the following: 

  • Encourage responsible drinking and avoid overserving. Make sure anyone who plans to drink has alternative transportation home, like a designated driver, an Uber/Lyft, or plans to stay the night. 
  • Do not serve alcohol to minors. 

Everyone wants to have fun, and sometimes alcohol is part of that equation – especially during holiday parties. At the same time, when a lot of people get together and alcohol is in the mix, sometimes things happen. It doesn’t mean you need to take alcohol out of the picture altogether, you just need to practice common sense when serving it to your guests. 

What will insurance do when things go wrong?

One critical component of any home or tenant insurance policy is third-party liability. This protects you, the homeowner, as well as members of your household if you or they are ever held responsible for someone else’s injuries, their property beginning damaged, the destruction of belongings, etc. 

An example of this would be a guest attending your home for a holiday party who winds up having an allergic reaction to the casserole you served. They might sue you for their medical bills, time off work due to their illness, etc. – which would be covered by your insurance. 

While it’s always better to avoid these things in the first place, your insurance is there to help you if all else fails.  

Have any questions about home insurance, hosting duties and liability, or something else? Give us a call at Mitch Insurance and our brokers would be happy to help. And of course, happy holidays! 

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