Tip of the Week For the week of December 30, 2024 New Year's Safety NEW YEAR’S SAFETY Among all the fun and noise of a New Year’s celebration, it’s important to ensure festivities are safe. If alcohol is involved, there should be people in attendance who are designated to stay sober and ensure safety. While laws can help prevent mishaps, people making the right choices and being respectful of each other will help keep people safe while still having fun. The responsibility and much of the liability of a safe party remains with the host. If you are hosting a party, there are safety measures you can implement to keep people safe and reduce liability during New Year celebrations. Party Safety Tips: - Use common sense. This includes not driving after drinking or using substances. - Designate a non-drinking driver before the party. - Utilize public transportation where available. - Consider spending the night at the party location. - If you are hosting a party, ensure that nonalcoholic drinks are also served. - Communicate with neighbors before the party. Work together to respectfully address noise levels and other potential disturbances. - Have the courage to refuse serving a friend a drink if they are acting strange or are intoxicated. - Do not pressure friends to drink if they say no, have a drinking problem, or are already intoxicated. - Consider the safety and welfare of pets. Loud music, people, and fireworks can result in distress. - Ensure that pets have ID tags with current information on them and that they are safely secured before the party. Ensure pet licenses and microchips are updated so they can be easily reunited with you. - Candles, fireworks, kids, and pets don’t mix. Keep them away from each other. Use Caution When Consuming Alcohol There can be misconceptions about different types of alcohol and their effects. For instance, beer and wine are just as intoxicating as distilled spirits. A 12-ounce can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler, and an ounce and a half of liquor contain nearly the same amount of alcohol. While it is important to limit alcohol and stay hydrated, juices, sodas, and other mixers won't help dilute alcohol; they just make alcohol tastier. Alcoholic drinks using artificial sweeteners lead to a higher rate of alcohol absorption resulting in a greater blood alcohol concentration compared to drinks made with sugar-based mixers. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more. Use caution when mixing drinks or serving sweet beverages, these can lead to accidental over-consumption of alcohol.