Due to the lowering of the blood alcohol level standard for drunken driving and more liability lawsuits holding them accountable, many companies are cutting back or eliminating altogether alcohol at company events.

"Alcohol just doesn’t seem to be as big of a focus as it once was," Richard Carbotti, president of Perfect Surroundings Inc., a special-events design and production company in Newport, RI told the Providence Business News. "You still have some diehards who have vodka pouring down ice fountains and crazy stuff like that, but it’s a lot less common these days."

"Companies already are much more conscious of the liability issue than ever before," said Craig Sutton, owner of Craig Sutton Entertainment Services in Framingham, Mass.

Several lawsuits in recent years have ended with companies being held liable for deaths and injuries to their employees following drinking bouts at company events. Some victims, who have been injured by drivers who left company parties, have successfully sued the company for serving the driver alcohol.

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