Can I serve Wine to Client?

Q: May I serve a glass of wine to clients over age 21 who visit my office, similar to when a client visits an upscale hair salon? 

A: There’s no law prohibiting this activity; however, it’s not recommended for a number of reasons, including but not limited to premises liability issues and licensing law problems. For example, what happens if the client becomes tipsy at your office and is injured or gets behind the wheel of a car and causes an accident?

Moreover, what if the client enters into an exclusive representation agreement with you, agrees to accept your offer to list his or her property or decides to make an offer to purchase someone else’s property and later regrets the decision and accuses you of serving wine in an effort to influence the outcome? All of these scenarios could open the door to both personal and Florida Real Estate Commission liability.