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WILKES-BARRE — Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) Chairman Tim Holden, and PLCB Member Michael Newsome this week offered tips on safely hosting parties and reminded Pennsylvanians of potential liability if a guest has an alcohol-related incident, even after leaving the party.
This week, a two-sided flyer featuring hosting suggestions and helpful links will be placed in customers’ bags at more than 600 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores throughout Pennsylvania.
“It’s important for party hosts to understand that under Pennsylvania law they can be held legally responsible for guests’ actions even after they leave the party,” Insurance Commissioner Altman explained. “Hosts can be held liable for negligence for the actions of an intoxicated guest, similar to being liable for injuries or property damage someone may suffer if a sidewalk for which the insurance policy holder is responsible is found to have contributed to the injury by being in disrepair, or not cleared of ice and snow.”
The in-store handout and web resources identify several actions hosts can take to avoid potential liability:
• Making sure as a host you stay sober to monitor your guests’ sobriety.
• Having a good amount and variety of food on hand throughout the party.
• Offering a variety of non-alcoholic beverages.
• Stopping alcohol service about an hour before the party ends.
• Never serving alcohol to anyone under 21, which is illegal and carries significant civil and criminal liabilities.
If a guest has had too much to drink or is too tired to drive safely:
• Arrange for one or a few guests to not drink alcohol during the party and serve as designated drivers.
• Call a cab or ride-share.
• Allow a guest to stay overnight.
Additional party planning and responsible hosting tips are available at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com, under “Entertain,” including a calculator that can help a host determine how much alcohol might be needed at a party. A “Home for the Holidays” informational piece with tips on fire safety for holiday decorations, party hosting liability, and how to lessen the chances of gifts being stolen is also available at insurance.pa.gov, under “Coverage,” on the homeowner’s insurance page.
Altman said a homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy might provide some liquor liability coverage, but this coverage can vary from policy to policy.
“A policy might provide coverage for things such as the costs associated with a legal defense, including expenses, settlements, or judgments,” Altman said. “However, some policies might exclude coverage for liability relating to serving alcohol in your home or apartment, especially if a criminal charge or conviction results from an incident involving alcohol.”
Altman added that, even if a policy has liquor liability coverage, in cases where there is extensive property damage, significant injury, or death, the liability limits in the policy might be insufficient to cover the costs.
“The best idea is to review your policy and discuss your liability coverage with your insurance professional and, if appropriate, consider adding a liquor liability rider to provide extra coverage,” Altman said.
Pa. to reopen application period
for clinics to study medical pot
The Wolf Administration this week said it will open a second round of applications for its medical marijuana research program in early 2019 as no clinical registrant approvals were issued in the first round because none of the eight applicants met the rigorous requirements of the competitive review process.
Clinical registrants would partner with research centers to conduct research related to medical marijuana.
“Research is an essential part of our efforts to ensure that patients can find relief from their serious medical conditions with medical marijuana,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Our goal is to ensure that our research program operates at the highest standards. We are disappointed that awards were not made, but must uphold the standards set out in the regulations.”
The research program, directed by Act 43 of 2018, allows for eight clinical registrants that hold both a grower/processor and a dispensary permit.
More than 93,000 patients in Pennsylvania have registered to participate in the medical marijuana program, and more than 62,000 have identification cards and are able to purchase medical marijuana at a dispensary. Approximately 1,360 physicians have registered, 945 of whom have been approved as practitioners.
The medical marijuana program was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf on April 17, 2016. Since that time, the department has:
• Completed temporary regulations to enact the program.
• Convened the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board.
• Approved six training providers for physician continuing education.
• Approved four laboratories to test medication before it is delivered to patients.
• Registered more than 93,000 patients and issued more than 62,000 identification cards.
• Validated over 330,000 dispensing events.
• Issued 25 grower/processor permits, 12 of which are operational.
• Issued 27 dispensary permits and approved 42 locations to begin operations.
• Certified eight medical schools as Academic Clinical Research Centers.
The medical marijuana program offers medical marijuana to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and under a practitioner’s care for the treatment of a serious medical condition as defined by the Medical Marijuana Law.
For more on the medical marijuana program, visit www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov or follow the Department of Health on Facebook and Twitter.
State launches new Drug and
Alcohol Referral Tool (DART)
The Wolf Administration this week announced the launch of the Drug and Alcohol Referral Tool (DART) — an online resource designed to help Pennsylvanians seeking substance use disorder treatment for themselves or a loved one find treatment options and other related services in their area.
The tool is a centralized hub that consolidates available resources to assist people looking for services but are not sure where to begin.
The DART tool provides resources based on a person’s age, county of residence, and veteran status, and can also list resources if a person is experiencing homelessness, has issues with transportation to treatment, or has legal concerns as well as programs that may be available depending on a person’s income. The tool does not evaluate eligibility for resources provided, but refers users to how they can obtain more information or assess their eligibility.
The tool is fully anonymous and can be translated into more than 100 languages.
The DART tool can be accessed at www.ddap.pa.gov/GetHelp.
For more information on Pennsylvania’s response to the opioid crisis, visit www.pa.gov/opioids.
