Every
season, 'tis the
season for responsible hosting
General Tips:
- Set a drink limit and don't push drinks; push food and non-alcoholic
beverages.
- If you serve an alcoholic punch, make it with a non-alcoholic base.
- Never let your guests drink and drive.
- Never serve alcohol to anyone under 21.
- Don't ride in a car with anyone who is impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
What to say to impaired guests
The decision to serve alcoholic beverages at your party or in your home carries with it a
responsibility for the welfare of your guests. Responsible attitudes
toward drinking should make us behave in such a way that we will never have to
feel sorry for what happened.
Remember, people don't like to admit that
they are impaired and may argue that they are okay to drive. Below are
some arguments you might hear and some ways to respond:
Guest: I'll just have some coffee to sober up.
Host: Only time sobers you up. Alcohol oxidizes at a rate of
approximately one drink every two hours.
Guest: Hey, I'm not drunk!.
Host: Share with your guest(s) the fact that impairment begins with the
very first drink and remind them of the penalties they will face if convicted of
Driving Under the Influence.
Guest: I only drank beer and didn't mix drinks.
Host: It doesn't matter. One 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of
wine or 1-ounce of 80 proof liquor contain the same amount of alcohol with the
same intoxication potential.
Guest: I need my car.
Host: Invite your guest to stay over OR find them a Designated
Driver. While receiving a ride home, another sober guest may help by
driving the car to the impaired person's residence.
Guest: I live real close. I can make it.
Host: Statistics show that three out of four crashes occur within 25
miles of a person's home.
Guest: I do this all the time; I never get caught.
Host: First ask yourself, "How did this person get invited to my
party?"
This page is: http://www.maddorangecounty.org/partytips2.htm
Page updated: August 13, 2005
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