Be a Good Party Host — Help Your Guests Get Home Safely
Before you host your next party, pause to consider that nearly 30 people every day die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Party hosts and attendees have a responsibility when it comes to safe consumption of alcohol at parties.
When you are the host
- When guests arrive, check to make sure everyone has a sober driver to get them home after the party.
- Prepare your favorite holiday mocktail recipes, and offer plenty of alcohol-free drinks. (See our summer mocktails here.)
- Stop serving alcohol before the party is scheduled to end.
- Provide high-protein foods such as cheeses, meats, cold cuts, cheese fondues, cheese balls or deviled eggs.
- Avoid serving too many pretzels, chips or other salty snacks.
Keep an eye out for signs of intoxication in your guests
- Loss of inhibition.
- Loss of motor control (such as tripping).
- Silliness.
- Sadness/crying.
- Boisterousness.
- Slurred speech.
- Wobbly gait.
If you have to intervene
- Act early.
- Be calm but firm.
- Speak softly.
- Don’t take drunken statements personally.
- Offer to pay for a ride home.
- Get help if you need it.
When you are the guest
- Designate a sober driver, or volunteer to be the designated driver that night.
- Download a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft, or program the name of the local cab company in your cell phone.
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast.
- Eat protein- and carbohydrate-rich food and alternate with alcohol-free drinks.