Chief’s Column: Give the gift of safe party planning

With the increase in parties and events to help celebrate the holiday season, the Grafton Police Department would like to remind everyone that drinking and driving is a dangerous combination. To ensure everyone’s safety, we would once again like to offer these tips on hosting safe holiday parties.

Responsible hosts know that part of showing guests a great time is making sure they get home safely. Here are some suggestions to help you throw a memorable party without tossing caution to the wind:

• Plan activities like party games or door prize drawings. Planned activities engage people, make for less active consumption of alcohol and ensure that your friends remember the great event long after the last piece of confetti has settled.
• As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver.
• Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
• Avoid too many salty snacks which tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails for designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol.
• If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base, like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base.
• Be prepared by having the number of a taxi service on hand for those who need a ride. Also, be ready with some clean linen so you can turn your sofa into a hotel for guests who might need to sleep it off.

During Your Party:

• Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age, and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
• Don’t let guests mix their own drinks. Choosing a reliable “bartender” will help you keep track of the size and number of drinks that guests consume.
• If a guest appears to be drinking a bit much, offer to freshen his or her drink with a virgin version.
• Do not push drinks! Drinking at a party is not mandatory for having a good time.
• Have fun – but not too much fun. To be a good host, you should stay within your limits in order to make sure your guests stay within theirs.
• Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends and serve a great dessert treat with coffee. Remember, only time sobers someone who has been drinking.
• If, despite your efforts, some of your guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi, or invite them to stay over.

If a guest is drinking too much:

How do I approach one of my guests who have had too much to drink? I mean, I don’t want to lose a friend.

• The first time is the hardest, but your actions could save your friends life or that you cannot let them drive home because you care. Offer to let the guest spend the night, call a cab, rideshare or ask a sober guest to drive the intoxicated person home.
• 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 a while or switch to beverages of the non-alcoholic variety – sparkling cider makes a great substitute for a glass of champagne.

Happy Holidays from the members of the Grafton Police Department.

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr., Chief of Police