Greenwood Village, Colo., February, 1, 2012 – This Sunday's football game is one of the biggest days of the year for parties and alcohol sales. It's not unusual for these parties to start hours before kick-off and last well after the game has finished.
In addition, in some recent years the percentage of motor vehicle deaths resulting from DUI-related accidents was higher on big game Sunday than on New Year's Day, the 4th of July or any other day of the year.
Many of these accidents can be prevented. Party hosts, bartenders and servers can be found legally liable if one of their guests is involved in an alcohol-related accident. By preventing a guest from driving under the influence you'll possibly save the guest's life and the lives of others. American Medical Response offers the following tips for party hosts, bartenders and servers to keep in mind when serving alcohol at parties celebrating the big game.
AMR advises party hosts to:
Limit your own alcohol intake so you can determine whether guests are fit to drive and take steps to stop impaired guests from driving.
As soon as a group of guests arrive, ask who is serving as the designated driver. Remember who the designated drivers are and don't offer them alcohol. You might give designated drivers a reward such as a great spot for watching the game or first pass at the buffet table. Ask non-drivers to hand their keys to their designated driver.
If a guest comes alone and is known to drink alcohol, determine at the start of the party who will take him or her home.
Do not pressure guests to drink. There's a big difference between asking, "Would you like something to drink?" compared to insisting, "Come on, have a drink!"
Provide a bartender so guests don't over-serve themselves. Limit servings of alcohol by keeping glasses filled with ice. Don't rush to refill guests' glasses with alcohol.
Non-alcoholic beverages should be displayed in the same place as the alcohol and featured just as prominently.
Serve lots of food. Include soft drinks, water and juice plus tempting "mocktails." Mocktails are mixed drinks without alcohol in them.
Serve all beverages in the same size and shape glass. That way, those who aren't drinking alcohol won't feel or look different.
Do not allow drinking contests. Ask your guests who are drinking to pace themselves, eat plenty of food and alternate alcohol with non-alcoholic drinks.
Never serve alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age.
If someone shows up drunk or gets drunk, tell the guest he or she has had too much to drink and alcohol is off limits. If necessary, take the guest aside and offer a place to sleep it off. If another guest is a close friend of the intoxicated person, ask that other guest to help.
Prevent falls by clearing walkways and stairs. Provide good lighting. Escort inebriated guests. Walking under the influence can lead to serious injury.
Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter and begin serving coffee and dessert. But remember, coffee does not restore sobriety.
Never let anyone drive who is remotely impaired by alcohol. Take their keys. Call a cab. Encourage the guest to stay overnight. Don't let guests who have had too much to drink out of your sight.
American Medical Response Inc. (www.amr.net), America's leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 18,500 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals, with a fleet of 4,100 vehicles, transport more than three million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR, a subsidiary of Emergency Medical Services Corporation, is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo.
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