Tips for Hosts

Here are a few guidelines to follow when serving alcoholic beverages at your party.

Have non-alcoholic beverages available for your guests.

• It is very likely that some of your guests will not wish to drink an alcoholic beverage. Also persons taking certain medicines should not consume alcohol. Have soft drinks, coffee, or non-alcoholic drinks for them.

 Serve exciting, tempting non-alcoholic drinks.

• Try non-alcoholic margaritas or strawberry non-daiquiris. Take advantage of non-alcoholic beverages on the market, such as alcohol-free beers and flavored waters. Don’t penalize those who choose not to drink. Provide guests with desirable alternatives.

 Always serve food with alcoholic beverages.

• Tasty snacks are not only a delicious addition to any party, but also can slow the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol. High-protein foods such as cheese and meats are especially good because they stay in the stomach longer.

 If you serve an alcoholic punch, prepare it with a non-carbonated base.

• Alcohol is absorbed by the body much faster when combined with a carbonated mixer such as ginger ale. Fruit juice or tea is preferable base for party punches.

Have several one-ounce measuring cups at the bar so mixed drinks can be measured.

• At an informal party, guests will probably mix their own drinks. If a measuring device is handy, they very well may use it rather than pouring what seems to be the “right amount.” Inexpensive self measuring, one-ounce spouts can be purchased and placed on bottles. Guests will be less likely to drink to excess if standard measures for drinks are used.

Don’t force drinks on your guests.

• Under normal circumstances, the body can absorb about one drink an hour. Don’t rush to refill their glasses the minute they become empty. Many guests accept drinks they really don’t want to avoid appearing rude to the host.

Stop serving alcohol about an hour before the party is to end.

• During the last hour of your party, have coffee or some other non-alcoholic beverage available and top off the evening with a special food feature. Neither coffee nor any other drink will help anyone become sober; only over time will that happen. However, by serving only non-alcoholic drinks toward the end of the party, you give your guests extra time for their bodies to absorb the alcohol they have consumed.

If you observe a guest drinking too much, try these tips:

• Engage the guest in conversation to stop him or her from drinking.

• Offer food; this will slow down the rate at which the body is absorbing alcohol.

• Offer to serve a non-alcoholic beverage.

• Provide safe transportation for your guest or allow him or her to stay overnight.

 Source: Illinois Department of Transportation