Don’t Let Alcohol Spoil Your Holiday Festivities

The winter holidays are traditionally a time to visit with family and friends, and drinking alcohol is often part of the festivities. Most of us realize that drinking and driving at any time can be fatal, and no one intends to get behind the wheel while alcohol-impaired. But sobering statistics reveal that two to three times more people die in alcohol-related crashes over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays than during comparable periods the rest of the year.¹

If you plan on hosting a holiday party, taking some key steps could provide a safer environment for you and your guests. Failing to do so could have tragic consequences and expose you to significant civil or criminal liability. Thirty-seven states have enacted social host liability laws that may hold the host liable for accidents that occur because guests were drinking alcohol on the host’s premises.²

Here are some tips to help keep your holiday celebrations safer.

• Take care of basic home maintenance.

  Clear sidewalks and stairs of ice and snow, and repair any broken steps, handrails, etc.

• Consider hiring a professional bartender or asking a reliable friend to serve drinks.

  A professional bartender is trained to recognize signs of intoxication. A reliable friend who takes the role seriously may be able to help control guests’ alcohol intake rather than letting them pour their own drinks.

• Be moderate yourself.

  Limit your own alcohol intake so that you can better judge whether your guests are sober enough to drive at the end of the festivities.

• Serve food and never push drinks on your guests.

  Eating before and while drinking can slow the absorption of alcohol in the body, and people may drink less when they are full. Have plenty of water and non-alcoholic drinks available.

• Monitor your guests.

  If you notice that a guest appears to be intoxicated, encourage him or her to stop drinking, and make sure the guest has a designated driver or a taxi, or can stay overnight at your house.

• Never serve alcohol to minors.

  The drinking age in every state is 21, with a zero tolerance law for minors driving under the influence. Some state laws specifically cite hosts who serve alcohol to minors.³

• Stop serving alcohol an hour or two before the end of the party.

  Give your guests time to process the alcohol before they drive. Serve coffee, tea, and other drinks. Although caffeine does not counteract the effects of alcohol, it may help your guests to be more alert.

Moderate drinking can be an enjoyable aspect of a holiday party, but driving while intoxicated is dangerous for you, your guests, and others on the road. Special attention from you as the host may help improve the safety and enjoyment of all concerned. It would also be wise to check your homeowners policy if you entertain often. You might consider obtaining an umbrella insurance policy to provide additional liability coverage. Of course, even if you have appropriate liability insurance, your policy may not cover a civil judgment.

1) PRNewswire, December 20, 2010
2—3) Insurance Information Institute, 2010, 2011

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2011 Emerald Connect, Inc.