This question keeps coming up from my brewery and distilleryclients: Are dogs allowed at breweries and distilleries?

As a commercial insurance agent specializing in the craftbeverage world, I'll tell you that your brewery or distillery'sinsurance policy most likely does NOT specifically exclude pets atyour facility — essentially, allowing them to be there.

Related: 10 common claims from craftbreweries

Depending on your local and state government, it may be a codeviolation if you have a pet at a restaurant that serves food. It istypically against the U.S. Department of Agricutlure code to have a pet inany areas where food is being made or served, including outdoorpatios. I say “typically” because service dogs are becoming moreand more common and the term “service dog” is becoming harder todefine as well.

Video: Watch “Risks in Focus: Opportunity Brewing” to see howcraft breweries operate and the risks they face.

Also think about the many patrons at the brewery or distillerythat are afraid of, or just dislike dogs (hard to believe, I know).I bring my 86-pound olde English bulldogge Philly everywhere —she's great, but she's a tank. Even the 5-pound dogs are feared bymany. So, if a business is allowing dogs to be on premises, insideor out, and people are afraid of dogs, they may avoid yourestablishment all together.

Another thing to consider: Does your dog really want to bethere? Maybe, maybe not. There's loud noises, and as you know, adog's ears are way more sensitive than a human's. Additionally,there are numerous smells and tons of people that can put even themost docile dog on edge.

Related: 8 tips for preventing dog bites

Worth the risk

That said, let's consider an outdoor patio scenario at a brewerywhere patrons are allowed to bring their dogs. It's a blazing hotday, you're sitting at your favorite local craft beverage spotenjoying a refreshing hoppy IPA, and your dog is laying at yourfeet in a very relaxed manner. A new patron arrives with his dog,and as they're walking past your table and into the tasting room,one dog sniffs another the wrong way and off we go.

Related: 12 factors impacting dog biteclaims

Even the most docile dogs can be set off in a brewery ordistillery setting. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Now every dog there is on alert. Maybe there's a fight, maybethere's just growling, maybe there's blood, maybe a table isknocked over and glass falls and breaks, maybe someone cutsthemselves on the glass — your fun, relaxing day has just beenturned upside down with thoughts about what's to come over the nextfew days or weeks.

One owner now has an injured dog and wants to press charges onthe other pet owner. Who's at fault? I'm sure we'll have threestories: One dog owner's, the other dog owner's, and the realstory. So it goes. (Shouts to the late Kurt Vonnegut.)

Related: How much will a dog bite cost? About$37,200

The local township is alerted and the brewery owners arealerted, maybe fined, maybe sued. As a dog owner, you'reresponsible for the care, custody and control of your pet — saysyour homeowner's policy! This may fall back to the liabilitycoverage on your own personal homeowner's policy, and guess what?Your insurer may or may not be aware that you even own a dog.Furthermore, your dog may be on the banned dog list and you'd haveno coverage on your policy. Therefore, tens or hundreds ofthousands of dollars comes out of your pocket to pay legal fees andmedical bills.

So, you tell me: Is it worth it?

Check local codes and insurance policies

To recap, local and state health regulations may make thisdecision easy for you. You should first talk to your localofficials about codes specific to your area.

Here's a typical list of banned dogs on homeowners'policies, and here's an article from Andy Sparhawk on CraftBeer.comdiscussing this same topic. Check out PropertyCasualty360's list of10 dog breeds most often blacklisted by homeinsurance carriers, according to EinhornInsurance, a San Diego-based agency that assists responsibledog owners in finding carriers that don't discriminate.

Protect your guests. Protect their pets. Protect your employees.Protect your business! Cheers!

Related: Opportunity Brewing

Kyle C. Rheiner is craft beverage and restaurantinsurance specialist at StricklerInsurance Agency, which runs Lebanon, Pennsylvania-basedCraftBreweryInsurance.com. Rheiner can be reached at[email protected]. Opinionsexpressed are the author's own.