It’s hard to believe that the curtain is closing on another year. Whether you are celebrating a happy and prosperous 2024, or toasting to putting the year behind you and starting fresh, we want to wish you all a happy and safe New Year.
New Years Eve is known for its alcoholic content. After all, tradition does call for a champagne toast at midnight. For many, that’s not where the beverages begin, or end. Even after enjoying a few alcoholic beverages, with a little bit of forethought, you can help ensure a healthy and happy start to 2025 for you, your family, and your friends.
Have a designated driver planned ahead of time or, better yet, be the DD. It might seem like a buzzkill to be the only sober person, but ensuring the safety of your loved ones is the greatest gift you can give. Besides that, it gives you a great excuse to plan another evening out so they can return the favor!
Call for a ride. Whether it is someone you know or a taxi service – ensure a safe ride home. If the cost of a taxi is a concern, think of it this way; paying for a taxi ride home is much cheaper than a DUI charge.
Be firm and non-confrontational if you suspect someone has had too much to drink and they want to drive. Telling someone they shouldn’t drive isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially the more intoxicated they are. Don’t be confrontational and speak low so as not to draw attention, but be persistent. Enlist help if necessary, but don’t give up. It is for their own good.
Consider the situation. If a person has had too much to drink they may be irrational and react to a situation in a manner that is out of character for them. Be patient when dealing with this. You may need to get creative. Do what you can to not evoke anger, but remain persistent. Giving up to spare their feelings could be deadly.
Put your feelings out there. Explain that you are trying to help them and that you are concerned for their safety. Let them know that you’d rather them be angry and alive than the alternative.
Have back up options available. Especially if you are the one throwing the party, have other options available if someone is too drunk to leave on their own. Have people there who have agreed to take guests home or have places in your home ready so that guests can sleep it off there.
Offer non-alcoholic beverages and stop serving alcohol early. In order to give people the chance to get sober before they leave for the evening, offer non-alcoholic beverages and stop serving alcohol before the party ends. Make sure to have things planned for that non-alcoholic time so that party goers will stick around.
This is a tough one, but collect keys (surprise guests with this if you can so they don’t plan on bringing a spare.) The best way to keep someone from driving is by not giving them access to their keys. This is a great idea especially if you know that alcohol brings out the argumentative side of some of your guests.
Offer to drive their car. Get them home by offering to drive their car as long as you are sober. If you have a vehicle too, you can both pick your car up the next day.
If all else fails, call the police. If you’ve tried everything you can think of and they still get into their car to leave, call the police. Best case scenario, your friend gets stopped and they give him/her a ride home with a warning. Worst case scenario, they get in trouble, but at least they won’t be able to harm themselves or someone else.
From all of us with the Safe Communities Coalition, have a safe and happy new year! We wish you all the best for 2025!
