December is filled with family traditions, gift giving, and a lot of party festivities. It’s a time for Good Friends, Good Choices, and Good Tidings! And whether you are hosting a holiday party for your friends or attending one of your friend’s parties, I want to share with you some ideas on how to host or attend a holiday event responsibly. I also want to gently remind you that whether you choose a beverage with alcohol or a zero proof option, it is your choice, and I have some tips for you to consider either way!
Remember, when you make smart choices about alcohol, you are able to fully enjoy the holiday spirit. And If you choose not to drink, be confident in that choice, and don’t let others pressure you into changing your decision or compromising your values. Respect the decision of others if they choose not to drink.
SERVE A VARIETY OF FOOD
I’m all about being health conscious and setting up single serving snack food at a party for cleanliness and convenience. This way it’s not buffet or served family style where all of the guests are sticking their hands in the chip bowl or double dipping in the guacamole! Think outside the box for ideas to make each appetizer or snack fit into individualized cups or bowls. For example, you can put pre-cut carrots and celery into a cup with ranch at the bottom for easy dipping and eating. You can put a serving of chips in individually wrapped bags for guests to easily take on the go. I recommend offering food that can he handheld so there is no need for scooping or utensils! Trust me, it’s a win win for everyone! Just make sure you serve food, especially if you are also serving alcohol.
Pro Tip: If you are attending a holiday party, hydrate with water and eat before and during events. Eating before you drink can reduce your peak BAC by as much as 35-40%.
PROVIDE A VARIETY OF BEVERAGES
First, make sure everyone drinking alcohol is 21+! Even if your high school graduate just wants a single sip, we want to role model responsible drinking, which means they don’t drink until they are of legal age. Did you know the National Institute on Drug Abuse recently released its annual Monitoring the Future survey results showing underage drinking prevalence rates have continued to decline for 10th and 12th graders for the fourth year in a row?
Pro Tip: You may want to set up a separate station for beverages for those who are underage or choose not to drink. In addition, contemplate different cups or glasses to differentiate between drinks that do and do not contain alcohol.
When hosting a party, make sure you provide a variety of beverages like water, juice, and even a speciality mocktail! Some people want be able to or will want to drink an alcoholic cocktail, so make sure you have zero proof options and water available, too. This is important so your guests can monitor their alcohol intake and take turns sipping alcohol and water throughout the gathering. And this way, your gathering can be family friendly and won’t leave anyone out whether they are under 21 or choose not to drink for their own personal reason.
MAKE A STANDARD POUR
I have been to gatherings in the past where there is a self serve drink table and I’ve witnessed guests helping themselves and not gauging how much alcohol is actually going in their glass. This goes for beer, wine, and spirits. I recommend having a jigger on your drink table or asking a friend (or even hiring someone) to be a bartender for your gathering. This way you can ensure your guests are getting a standard pour each and every time! A standard pour means 1.5 ounces of a distilled spirt, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.
Pro Tip: Don’t top off drinks! It makes it harder to gauge how much you have consumed.
TALK WITH YOUR KIDS
Be open to conversations about alcohol. Before the gathering, make sure to spend time with your children and let them know about what to expect. Let them be aware of any ground rules you may have and why it is important to be responsible. Make sure they know which beverages are alcoholic and which ones they are allowed to drink. Also, make sure they learn how to say NO if any of the guests offer them a drink. Make sure they know to only drink out of a cup they filled or know what’s inside and not to leave their cup anywhere for a long period of time and then drink it later. Their cup should stay in their hand at all times or they need to get a new drink if left unattended.
Also, if you choose to drink, don’t hide it. Show your children that alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly as part of social occasions if you can demonstrate self-control. Make it clear that you know your limits and stick to them, showing that it’s important to make conscious and informed decisions about alcohol consumption. And please, never drive drunk. Always have a plan for safe transportation if you’ve been drinking, such as using a designated driver, public transportation, or a ride-sharing service.
Talk openly about the effects of alcohol, the importance of being mindful and knowing your limits, and the legal drinking age. Explain why you make certain choices regarding alcohol. Set clear expectations and establish and communicate clear family rules about alcohol consumption, especially regarding the intolerance of underage drinking. Share real-life examples and stories that highlight the consequences of irresponsible drinking, including health risks and legal issues. And make sure that other adults understand your stance on responsibility and your intolerance for serving or supplying alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age. Working together, parents can normalize that most kids don’t drink.
KNOW HOW TO MANAGE STRESS
As a licensed mental health therapist, this one is very important to me. If you cope with stress by using alcohol, please consider other options like meditation, journaling, shoulder tapping, exercising, and other responsible ways. Show your children healthy ways to cope with stress and emotions that do not involve turning to alcohol. And promote and engage in activities that do not involve alcohol, emphasizing that socializing and having fun do not require drinking. And. encourage your friends and children (if they are old enough) alternatives to drinking.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE DRINKING TIPS
Be mindful of your consumption and how often you are consuming an alcoholic drink per hour
Wait until you are done with your first drink before ordering or making a new one
Drink water between sips and between having a new drink
Eat food while you are consuming an alcoholic beverage
If needed, please have a designated driver drive you home or call a driver service like Uber or Lyft. Encourage everyone to plan ahead for a safe ride home or identify a designated driver
Learn about more hosting tips here from Responsibility.Org!
Responsibility.org is a great resource for parents with kids of all ages to support a lifetime of conversations about alcohol responsibility. Learn more here!
If you want to learn how alcohol and other factors can affect your blood alcohol content (BAC) and how to understand your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) visit this Virtual Bar here!
I have been so honored to partner for the last five years with Responsibility.Org. I absolutely love what they stand for and that I can share their mission to help parents cultivate a lifetime of conversations with their kids, preventing underage drinking and drunk driving, and alcohol responsibility with all of you.
“PARENTS ARE THE NUMBER ONE INFLUENCE ON THEIR KIDS’ DECISIONS TO DRINK—OR NOT TO DRINK—ALCOHOL, AND WHEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALCOHOL BETWEEN CHILDREN AND PARENTS INCREASE, THE UNDERAGE DRINKING RATE DECREASES” – RESPONSIBILITY.ORG
As a parent, giving your child a voice is such a powerful and beneficial gift you can give them. And the earlier you talk to them, the better, but remember, it’s never to late to open the lines of communication. And Responsibility.org has a tremendous amount of resources and conversation starters to help you! Responsibility.org has conversation starters on their site here. In fact, their Ask, Listen, Learn program is a completely FREE digital underage drinking prevention program for kids ages 9-13 (grades 4-7) and their parents and educators with the goal to reduce underage drinking.
This post is sponsored by @go_faar but all opinions are my own.
You can follow Responsibility.Org on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information!
#TeamResponsibility
Leave a Reply