Many of us like to host a party during the holidays. Some prefer to just attend. If you are hosting, you have many things that need to be considered. Parking, the weather, who to invite, who not to invite, hurting someone’s feelings etc.
Generally your primary concern is what to have and having enough of those holiday eats, treats and drinks.
With all that planning a seasonal get-together, it’s important not to overlook your holiday party safety plans.
Most likely your party will involve alcohol, and while you want your guests to enjoy themselves, it’s also important to make sure they are being responsible. This involves keeping an eye out for anyone who may be drinking too much, and either providing a place to stay or a means to get home with a designated driver.
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent holiday drinking and driving.
- Have a designated driver.It’s one of the simplest rules to follow, but also one of the most effective in keeping people safe on the roads.
- Have cab numbers on hand.If someone should not be driving and they insist on going home, call a cab for them instead of allowing them to take the risk of driving home.
- Offer plenty of non-alcoholic drinks.While many guests may want to enjoy the holidays with an alcoholic drink, offer non-alcoholic drinks as an option.
- Offer food if you’re offering alcohol.Drinking on an empty stomach can cause a person to become intoxicated faster. Offering food along with drinks may help prevent guests from over-indulging on alcohol alone.
For more safety information visit: www.cdc.gov/family/holiday
Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
