Contents
Key points
- 20% of corporate events are evening parties (Atout France, 2018).
- One festive party a year, open to all employees, is not a benefit in kind (BOSS).
- The employer remains liable: non-alcoholic drinks, a meal and organised transport home are essential.
Evening ideas in Provence
- Dinner among the vines at an estate in the Var or the Luberon, with a tasting.
- Evening on the water: dinner on the harbour or a sunset cruise, in Marseille or Cassis.
- Camargue evening at a manade (bull and horse ranch). See Camargue.
- Provençal banquet in the open air at a bastide, with long tables and lights.
- Cooking workshop before dinner: the group prepares part of the meal. See cooking classes.
- Themed evening: night-time pétanque, guinguette (open-air dance café), concert.
Evening ideas by city
- Marseille: a privately hired boat from the Vieux-Port to the Calanques or the Frioul islands (from 12 to 197 people depending on the vessel). See Marseille.
- Aix-en-Provence: hosted pétanque and aperitif, then dinner at a bastide in the surrounding area. See Aix.
- Avignon: dinner after a private visit of the Palais des Papes, or a dinner cruise on the Rhône. See Avignon.
- Toulon: an evening on a privately hired boat in the harbour. See Toulon.
For the end-of-year celebration: company end-of-year party.
The rules on alcohol
- At the workplace, “no alcoholic drink other than wine, beer, cider and perry is permitted” (article R4228-20 of the French labour code, the Code du travail). The employer may limit, or even prohibit, their consumption through the internal rules (règlement intérieur) or a staff memo.
- Off the premises (restaurant, hired room, corporate retreat venue), the internal rules do not apply, but according to INRS, the French national institute for occupational health and safety, an employee invited by their employer remains under the employer’s authority: in the event of an accident, the employer could be held liable. INRS recommends limiting quantities and applying the same rules as on the premises.
- No obligation: “It is not compulsory to provide alcoholic drinks at a work drinks reception” (INRS).
Good practice recommended by INRS
- Always offer non-alcoholic drinks
- Limit the quantities of alcoholic drinks
- Provide food
- Make breathalysers available for anonymous self-testing
- Organise transport home for participants (taxi, shuttle)
- Do not serve alcohol to minors (apprentices, interns)
On a residential seminar, the question of getting home takes care of itself: the party takes place on site and everyone goes back to their room. This is a strong argument for the residential format.
Social security contributions: the annual party rule
According to BOSS, the official French social security bulletin, “no benefit in kind is to be recorded when the CSE or the employer, even where there is a CSE, organises, at most once a year, an end-of-year or company anniversary celebration, if all employees are invited and the cost of the event is global and not individualised”. The CSE is the staff works council.
An evening that forms part of a working corporate retreat falls under the rules for seminars instead: see the company offsite.
These rules are given for information only. Have your project checked by your chartered accountant or your HR department.
Organising the party
- Set the budget per person and the number of guests (partners invited or not).
- Choose the venue and the format: seated dinner, dinner-style cocktail reception, buffet.
- Plan the entertainment: music, an activity, a short speech.
- Organise transport home or accommodation.
- Check accessibility and dietary requirements.
Describe your project: many corporate retreat venues also organise the evening.
Sources and method
Information checked on 11 November 2026.
- Article R4228-20 du Code du travail — Légifrance : drinks permitted at the workplace
- Pots d’entreprise et alcool : quelles sont les règles applicables ? — INRS : events off the premises, liability, recommended measures
- Fêtes d’entreprise et consommation d’alcool — INRS : no obligation to serve alcohol
- Frais professionnels — BOSS : annual festive event
- Chiffres inédits sur le secteur des événements d’entreprise — Atout France (étude EY) : 20% of corporate events are evening parties
Frequently asked questions
Is a company party subject to social security contributions?
According to BOSS, the official French social security bulletin, no benefit in kind is recorded when the employer or the CSE (the staff works council) organises, at most once a year, an end-of-year or company anniversary celebration, provided all employees are invited and the cost is global rather than individualised.
Can alcohol be served at a company party?
At the workplace, only wine, beer, cider and perry are permitted (article R4228-20 of the French labour code, the Code du travail), and the employer may limit or prohibit their consumption. Off the premises, INRS, the French national institute for occupational health and safety, points out that an invited employee remains under the employer’s authority, and recommends limiting alcohol.
Is the employer liable in the event of an accident after a party?
The employer may be held liable, INRS points out, on the grounds of inexcusable fault (faute inexcusable), or under criminal or civil law. Hence the importance of providing non-alcoholic drinks, food, and organised transport home (taxi, shuttle, accommodation on site).
