* When serving alcohol beverages, serve food.
Offer a variety of good foods with your alcohol beverages.

* Offer non-alcohol beverages.
Have something for everyone: soft drinks, coffee and other non-alcohol beverages, such as O’Doul’s and 180 Energy Drink brands.

* Serve each guest one drink at a time.
Spacing drinks throughout a party can help your guests stay within their personal limits. Never force drinks on anyone. If serving wine, do not keep refreshing unfinished glasses as this makes it difficult for guests to keep track of how much they’re drinking.

* Serve “measured” drinks.
Beer and flavored malt beverages contain 4.2 to 6 percent alcohol by volume and come in standard-size packages, so it’s easy to keep track of how much you are drinking. Hard liquor drinks can have dramatically different amounts of alcohol, as well as calories and carbohydrates. Many factors contribute to these wide variances: brands of liquor used, alcohol by volume in brands chosen, drink recipe, mixers and bartender’s pouring preferences. If you choose to serve hard liquor, use a shot glass or jigger to avoid making drinks too strong. If serving wine, remember not to use oversized glasses.

* Consider how different types of alcohol are consumed.
The amount of time during which an alcohol beverage is consumed greatly impacts how alcohol is absorbed into the body. Beer is widely recognized as a beverage of moderation. Even though a 12 ounce beer may contain the same amount of alcohol as a 1 1/2 ounce shot of 80-proof liquor, a beer is enjoyed leisurely, while a shot is usually consumed in one swallow.

* Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends.
Serve desserts and other foods, coffee and soft drinks. But remember: none of these eliminate alcohol from the body – only the passage of time will do that.

* Help your friends get home safely.
Encourage your guests to designate a driver before they arrive. And don’t ever hesitate to call a cab or ask someone to spend the night if he or she may have had too much to drink.

Just as hosts do, party-goers also should plan ahead to help ensure the holiday season is fun and safe by designating a driver before the festivities begin. According to a recent survey conducted by TNS Custom Research, more than 137 million American adults have been or have used a designated driver. Thanks to designated drivers and increased law enforcement, drunk-driving fatalities nationwide continue to decline. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving fatalities have declined 38 percent since 1982.

To learn more about celebrating responsibly this holiday season, visit www.DesignatedDriver.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. A light dessert is perfect for the holidays There’s no time like the holidays to indulge your sweet...
2. How to set the table for successful entertaining Whether dining with friends or gathering with family, setting the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Here are a few things that you can do to make sure your celebrations end well.

• Beef up the menu. Serve foods that are rich in proteins since they hasten the absorption of alcohol. Don’t forget the late night snacks too.

• B.Y.O.P.J.S . Bring your own pajamas. Invite guests ahead of time to stay overnight.

• Let’s make a deal. Arrange a set fee with a local cab company to shuttle your guests to and from the party.

• Offer a token gift. Have transit fare or subway tokens available as guests leave for the night.

• Serve Smart D.D. Drinks. Non-alcoholic versions of party favourites are good to have on hand. Not only will your designated drivers thank you, so will those watching their waistlines. Try non-alcoholic ciders, spritzers and low-calorie pilsners that have the full-bodied taste of a quality beer like new Labatt Blue Dealcoholized, available in select grocery and convenience stores across Canada.

More party hosting tips can be found online at www.makeaplan.ca.

- News Canada

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.