It’s summer break and the country is officially back open. People are traveling more and more and are seeing each other in small and large gatherings among friends and family. So what does that mean? It means that when you are ready, it’s finally time to slowly (or quickly) reintegrate back into society and possibly even host a summer gathering whether it’s a graduation party, a summer backyard BBQ, a night out with your mom friends, a brunch with family, or even a 4th of July party. The good news is that we can socialize and celebrate being together again and we can also do it safety and responsibly.
I have been so honored to partner for the last two 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, including about 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. The summer is a great time to talk to your children when they are home and have less outside pressure.
You can follow Responsibility.Org on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information!#TeamResponsibility
Ready to stat planning? A good gathering takes time and a lot of preparation so here are my TOP 7 ways to host a fun summer soirée safely and responsibly!
Single Serving Food Options
I’m all about being health conscious (even before the pandemic) and love setting up single serving snack food 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 sandwich 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!
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 the 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.
Provide a Variety of Beverages
First, make sure everyone drinking alcohol is 21+ – even if your high school graduate just wants a single sip. Make sure you provide a variety of beverages like water, juice, and even a speciality mocktail! You want to do this for a multitude of reasons, but one reason is because the summer months are very warm and dehydration is much more prevalent so having water and other beverages on hand will help keep your guests hydrated and happy. This is also 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.
Music is a Must
It’s a summer gathering, so it’s meant to be lively and fun! So pick your favorite songs and create a playlist your guests will love! Want to take it to the next level? Have a designated area that is just for dancing – or even hire a DJ if you really want to step it up a notch! Whatever you decide to do, play music. Music is a way people connect with each other and get into better spirits.
Party Gifts
I am all about giving gifts at the gatherings I host. It’s not mandatory and no one typically expects anything for attending, it is just my personal way of showing how much I appreciate my family and friends for taking the time to come and spend time with me. I just love giving gifts to others, it must be a love language of mine, but it’s always been a hit and appreciated in the past so I make it a point to give some kind of gift at the end of each gathering. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or be super crafty, just choose something small, even if it’s just offering everyone a lei for a summer luau gathering! Some ideas I’ve done in the past for the kids include balloons, bubbles, books, beach balls, or sand toys. For adults, I have given photo frames, mugs, flip flops, and candles that I get in bulk on Amazon or a Dollar store. My gifts are always based on the theme of the party so be creative and fun!
Talk With Your Kids
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.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE DRINKING TIPS
Be mindful of your consumption and how often you are consuming a 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
Earlier this month we had a summit with the entire #TeamResponsibility group with Liquor Lab and we made 2 mocktails, which were quick, easy, and fun to make and also refreshing and delicious! Here are the recipes so you can try them at your next summer gathering!
Tapatio Girafa
1 packet tajin
¼ oz agave syrup
½ oz lemon juice
1-1/2 oz green tea (swap with tequila if making a cocktail)
2 oz ginger beer
Ice
Sunshine Sour
1-1/2 oz cranberry apple tea
½ agave syrup
¾ oz lemon juice
ice
I am a Responsibility.org ambassador this year and I am compensated to write the post but all of my opinions are my own.
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