If you plan on throwing an office Christmas party in New York City, then you will want to go all out to turn your party into a special event. As you put your party together, there are a few guidelines you should follow to make it easier for your guests to have a good time.

Places To Have Your Party

New York City is filled with great places where you can have your office Christmas party. There are five places in particular that will offer you and your employees a memorable Christmas party event.

Minus5 Ice Bar

The Mius5 Ice Bar is made completely of ice, but it is open all year round. This chilling venue is ideal for a memorable office Christmas party.

The Elm

The Elm is a relatively new restaurant in Brooklyn that has been growing quickly in popularity. It features four-star food and an excellent wait staff.

Malbec and Tango House

The Malbec and Tango House has a very rural feel to it, which makes it unique for New York City. It has a larger hall that will definitely create atmosphere for your office Christmas party.

Andaz Wall Street

The Andaz Wall Street room is fun because it is a throwback to the 1960’s. You feel like you walked back in time the moment you walk through the door. This room could bring back some nostalgic Christmas memories for your employees.

NoMad Rooftop

The NoMad Rooftop room is 12 stories up and has a great view of the city. It is a traditional banquet hall with a strong touch of elegance.

Tax Deductions For Your Party

The tax laws in New York State and New York City look favorably on companies that decide to throw office Christmas parties for their employees. If you decide to make your office Christmas party a buffet event, then section 274(n)(2) of the New York State tax code says that your entire event could be tax deductible for your company.

It is always best to discuss tax implications with a qualified tax attorney, but the potential to write off your entire party does exist. If you can show your employees a good time and get a tax break at the same time, then that is just like opening presents on Christmas morning.

New York City Public Intoxication Laws

Over the past several years, the city of New York has made huge steps towards cleaning up the problem of public intoxication. In order to spur tourism and bring customers back to city businesses, the city government has created a systematic program that has been aimed at eliminating public intoxication forever. If you plan on throwing an office Christmas party in New York City, then you will need to be aware of the public intoxication laws and give your workers options to avoid getting in trouble.

A New York City police officer does not need an intoxicated person’s consent to take that person into custody. The only thing that must be done is the intoxicated person must be seen by a doctor to make sure the person is not injured.

The punishment for public intoxication and being a danger to others in New York City is 15 days in jail and a $250 fine. The penalties for driving while intoxicated are much more severe. You want to do everything you can to make sure that your workers do not find themselves in a New York City jail the morning after your office Christmas party.

What You Can Do To Help Your Workers

There are three things you can do to help your workers avoid being arrested for public intoxication or driving while intoxicated. When you decide to book your party at a restaurant or banquet hall, you need to give firm instructions that no guest is to be served from the bar if they appear to be on the way to being intoxicated. Experienced bartenders can tell when someone has had enough alcohol and those are the bartenders you want working your party.

You could place a security person by the door with a breathlyzer machine and make it mandatory for each guest to blow into the breathlyzer before they leave. If they blow a high level for alcohol, then take their keys and call them a cab.

The last thing you can do is have a free taxi service waiting for people who are too intoxicated to drive. It may cost you a few bucks to make sure that your workers get home safe, but the investment will be well worth it.