Dinner parties provide a relaxed atmosphere for friends to unwind from a long work week and share stories, laughs, and a hearty meal. Despite the obvious feel-good perks, U.K.-based Swinton Insurance suggests that these gatherings may have hidden perils.
According to Swinton, home insurance claims are on the rise because of increasing numbers of accidents resulting from soirees. The insurer believes that one possible culprit is the popularity of certain TV shows, including Come Dine with Me, a show appearing on U.K.’s Channel 4 in which amateur chefs serve up delicacies to compete for a £1,000 cash prize.
In fact, an online survey of the insurer’s 1,200 homeowners’ insurance customers revealed that 67 percent had hosted a dinner party that resulted in an accident in the last six months. Of those polled, 28 percent had filed a claim for dinner-guest-inflicted damages to furnishings and electrical equipment. While the most common accident during a dinner party was spilling red wine on the carpet, various other blunders — involving food messes and broken appliances — seem to be contributing to a hike in claim costs as well.
"The majority of people have contents insurance for their homes but they should still be extra vigilant when holding dinner parties, especially when alcohol is concerned," cautions Steve Chelton, insurance development manager at Swinton. "Claiming for damage to items following drunken mishaps can cause contents insurance premiums to rise steeply."