With the holidays approaching, it can be a time to get together for families, co-workers and friends. Office parties, special holiday events and traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations focus our attention on alcohol more frequently than at any other four-week period during the year. According to a 2008 nationwide survey conducted by Caron Treatment Centers, nearly 70% of U.S. adults will participate in holiday parties.
Not surprisingly, the percentage of drunk driving crashes usually increases during the holidays.
Given the high number of parties and get-togethers that will be held, there also is a need to be aware of risks and consequences that can arise out of holiday events. According to the Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 4.7% of Marquette County residents surveyed reported they had driven when they had too much to drink at least once in the previous month.
Social Host laws were developed to help combat underage drinking and hold individuals liable for events where alcohol is served at a private residence. Michigan is one of thirty-three states with a social host law, which basically states individuals potentially could be held liable if they served alcohol to an intoxicated person or an underage person who was involved in a traffic crash causing death or injury to a third person. Most social host laws are in effect for property owned, leased or even rented. For example, a youth holds a party at his parents’ house while they are out of town and a youth attending the party dies in a drinking and driving accident. The parents of the youth could be found liable in a civil court.
With the seriousness of drinking and driving deaths, accidents and the responsibility of abiding by social host laws, how can you safely host a holiday party this season?
“Everyone has heard the term ‘Drink Responsibly’,” said Craig Marker, Youth Services Officer with the Marquette City Police Department. “On the same hand, a host of a holiday party should also ‘Host Responsibly’.”
There are many ways to ensure a safe and happy holiday get-together:
• Control access to the alcohol you provide by avoiding kegs and punch bowls.
• Don’t allow guests to pour their own alcohol.
• Offer coffee, juice, bottled water and coffee as alternatives to alcohol.
• Provide plenty of snacks, appetizers and other food.
• Plan entertainment and other activities so drinking alcohol is not the primary focus of the party.
• Stop serving alcoholic beverages at least one hour before the party ends and make sure anyone who is intoxicated does not receive more alcohol and does not drive home.
• Provide alternate transportation for impaired guests. Call a cab or enlist other sober guests to take the person home.
• Don’t serve alcohol to anyone under the age of twenty-one.
There are plenty of reasons to celebrate and get together with friends, coworkers and family. As important as this time together is, it is equally critical that those you care about stay safe on the roads.
For details, visit www.upprevent.org or call Sarah at 315-2621.
This item was created by the source, which is solely responsible for its content.
The Upper Peninsula Community Coalitions to Prevent Substance Abuse (UPC2) empowers the community to reduce the destructive effects of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and works to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among our youth through the implementation of the Reduce High Risk Drinking (RHRD) project. Along with the Youth Coalition to Create Community Change (Youth C4), the coalition strives to eliminate substance abuse, and help educate the upper peninsula as to the risks involved.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC