How to be a Perfect Host
or Hostess
- Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available.
- Don't encourage or force guests to drink alcohol.
- Provide plenty of food so guests won't drink on an empty stomach.
- Remember to designate before you celebrate. Arrange a
designated driver for those who are drinking alcohol.
- Never serve alcohol to people under 21.
- If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base such as
fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster
when it has a carbonated base.
- Close your bar 90 minutes before your party is over and serve a
great dessert treat and coffee, tea or soft drinks.
- Be honest. When inviting guests who are known to drink to
excess, tell them that drinking and driving is unacceptable at your
party. Get their agreement to find alternate modes of
transportation.
- Activities and entertainment should be scheduled to keep the focus
on celebrating a special occasion not drinking. Singing along
with musical accompaniment, party games and board games for all ages
are socially acceptable and fun!
- Companies holding office parties should consider arranging for
discounted or complimentary rooms when a party is held at a hotel so
employees won't drive home impaired.
If some of your guests
have had too much to drink:
- Drive them home
- Arrange a ride with another guest who is sober
- Call a taxi, or
- Ask them to stay.
Myth or Fact?
Myth: Coffee will sober up a drunk.
Fact: Only the passage of time will cause sobriety.
Myth: Beer isn't as "bad" as hard liquor.
Fact: A 12 ounce bottle of beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine or a shot of
hard liquor are each about the same amount of alcohol and will cause
impairment.
The Orange County Register reports:
If you are planning a holiday party, be wise and plan alternative
non-alcoholic beverage choices. There's a good chance that many of
your guests will not want to consume alcohol.
Ann Bradley, press director at the National Institute of Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism, says that a June 2000 report states that 700,000
people in the United States receive treatment for alcoholism every day.
Combine that with the list of Designated Drivers attending
your party and you may be surprised at the number of guests who prefer
non-alcoholic drinks.
This page is: http://www.maddorangecounty.org/partytips.htm
Page updated: August 13, 2005
| 
