Bars in Volunteer Firehouses: Weighing the safety and liability Issues

Providing alcohol in the firehouse can serve as a mechanism to encourage socialization, but this also creates liability issues

Question: My volunteer fire department is old-school: We have a bar attached to the station that brings in needed revenue, plus it serves as a hangout for the members. Should the liability concerns outweigh the income we get and the value of getting folks to hang out?

I can certainly help you better understand your liability concerns, and even offer my opinion on the balancing of interests. From there, the weighing of the interests is not a legal one, understanding that legal concerns should weigh heavily on your final decision. Read More…