From the Youth Service Bureau

Are you planning a Christmas or New Year's Eve party? Are you spending days preparing this party? Chances are, you are so preoccupied with hosting an enjoyable party that you have forgotten one crucial aspect: how to keep your friends and family from driving home under the influence. Along with the expected joy and cheer, winter holidays bring more occurrences of drunk driving than in any other season.

Did you know that:

• Nationally more than 1,000 people typically die each year between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day in drunk driving crashes?

• In 2005, 147 people died over Christmas Eve and Day, and 227 people died in alcohol-related crashes during the New Year's Holiday.

• Overall, an estimated 500,000 people are injured in alcohol-related crashes each year.

Do you feel that these astonishingly high numbers are hopeless? MADD has reported a slight decline in drunk driving fatalities. Nationally, fatalities involving a driver at or above at .08 were down 1.2 percent from 13,099 in 2004 to 12,945 in 2005.

Now that you know the statistics, commit yourself to hosting a fun and safe party. First and foremost, practice "social responsibility."

This encompasses everything from the party menu to assessing how guests will get home safely once the party is over. Your role as a responsible party host can keep your friends and loved ones safe.

Here are some specific ways to plan before the party:

• Make certain that only non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails are available to underage guests, designated drivers, and those who prefer not to drink alcohol;

• Plan activities which will engage your guests and make for less consumption of alcohol;

• As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver;

• Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach;

• Have a taxi service phone number available on hand for those who need a ride.

Here are some things to do during your party:

• Never serve alcohol to underagers or have them serve drinks

• Don't let guests pour their own drinks, instead have a reliable "bartender" help you keep track of the size and number of drinks that guests consume

• Don't push drinks. They are not mandatory for having a good time.

• Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends and serve dessert and coffee. Only time sobers someone who has been drinking.

• If, despite your efforts, some guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi, or invite them to spend the night.

This holiday season, use these tips to ensure that your friends and family not only have a fantastic time, but are safe too.

Don't let anyone you know become a statistic in an alcohol-related traffic accidents.

For more information, visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Web site at www.madd.org or call the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau at (651) 464-3685. Happy holidays!

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