Is it alright to serve beer in a company party? How much should we allocate per person? We want people to enjoy, but not end up too drunk thereby ruining their careers!
I think it would be difficult to control the amounts when the party is already up and banging. It's the employee's responsibility to ensure that they don't drink too much.
Of course, it's best to prepare just in case someone really gets drunk. Have a cab ready to take the employee home or a hotel room where the employee can stay. Never make a drunk employee drive himself home.
We issue two tickets for two paid drinks at our company parties using catered bar tenders. Additional drinks must be purchased by the employee. Also, we have a designated employee who is to telephone our hired on-call cab should someone be leery of driving home intoxicated.
I believe that the real preparation to avoid drunk employees during a party starts before the party. Re-orient the employees, either through small Department meetings or through a memo, about the Company's policy on behaviour during Company parties.
Be sure to serve foods that are rich in starch and protein, as well as non-alcoholic drinks, so the employees can avoid getting too drunk during the party.
I would like to add my 2 pennies worth on this topic. I don't think beer can really make someone drunk, unless you serve them an entire truckload of it. As long as there are plenty of food to go with the beer, I'm positive that drunk employees will not be a problem.