Be a Responsible Host this Holiday Season

Holiday parties and gatherings are an important part of this festive season. Most people put a great deal of time and effort into planning a holiday party, whether it's for the home or office. But in the midst of working on the details of the menu, guest list and decorations, one planning detail is often overlooked: how to make sure your guests don't drink too much.

"Naturally, you want to be sure all guests have a good time, but a responsible host realizes it's even more important to be sure that all guests survive," says Brenda Hollenbeck, MS, LPC, therapist with Samaritan Counseling Center. "Office parties, holiday receptions, family gatherings and New Year's Eve make December a peak time for drunk driving accidents and fatalities. If you are hosting a party, it’s important to plan ahead to make sure only sober drivers are leaving your gathering with car keys in their hands."

Hollenbeck says there are many ways you can be a responsible host and a good friend. Depending on the type of social situation and setting, you might want to try different strategies.

Here are some recommendations from Samaritan:

Know who is driving. Ask each arriving group who their designated driver. Collect car keys at the door. This will allow you to assess the driver before letting them leave.

Be prepared. If your event will be held in or very close to a hotel, encourage guests ahead of time to book rooms for the night. Have alternative transportation arranged or keep the phone numbers for several cab companies handy.

Serve food throughout the event. High-protein foods such as cheese, nuts (unsalted), meat and fish slow the body's absorption of alcohol. Avoid salty foods that encourage people to drink more.

Offer options. Have a variety of non-alcoholic beverages available such as juice, soda, bottled water, coffee and tea. Showcase a sparkling, non-alcoholic punch in the center of your serving table.

Limit access to alcohol. Never let guests pour their own alcohol. Hire a bartender who is trained in the responsible service of alcohol. Instruct the bartender to pour lightly (use a measure) and to keep track of refills. Close the bar one hour before the party ends.
Obey the law. Have the bartender card anyone who appears to under the age of 30 (no ID, no alcohol). NEVER serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 or to a guest who is visibly intoxicated.

Focus on fun. Have games, music, entertainment or other activities to shift the party's emphasis from drinking to socializing.

Know the limits. Only time will sober up your guests. Coffee, cold air, even a cold shower won't help. Don't be fooled by lines like, "I'm fine. I only had a couple of drinks."
Be aware. Signs of impairment can include lack of coordination (stumbling, spilling drinks), unusual behavior (loudness, aggressiveness, extreme moods such as very talkative or very indifferent) and slurred or incoherent speech. But even those without outward signs may be impaired.

Get help. For all business functions as well as large at-home parties, hire security to help make sure impaired guests do not try to drive home. If this is not feasible, recruit several people who will not be drinking and ask them ahead of time to help you make sure everyone has a safe ride home.

Hollenbeck says preventing someone you know is intoxicated from driving can be difficult. "That's why it is wise to think about this before the situation occurs so you’ll be prepared. It may be a little embarrassing, but remember your actions could save your friend's life. Offer to let the guest spend the night, call a cab, or ask a sober guest to drive the intoxicated person home."

Other suggestions for dealing with a guest who has had too much to drink:

• Engage him/her in a conversation to slow down the drinking.
• Offer high protein food.
• Offer to make the next drink and use less alcohol.
• Don’t be afraid to insist that they sit out the sipping for awhile or switch to beverages of the non-alcoholic variety– sparkling cider makes a great substitute for a glass of champagne.

Samaritan Counseling Center offers counseling services on a sliding scale fee. For more information, call 433-4357 or visit www.samaritanswla.org.