As we near the end of the year, there will be lots of holiday parties to go to. You may even find yourself hosting one.

“Nothing puts a damper on the festivities more than a DUI arrest, so here are some “How to Avoid a DUI” tips for both party guests and hosts.”

Holiday Parties - Santa Cruz CA - Eight Ball Bail Bonds

If you’re going to Holiday Parties, keep in mind to do the following:

  • Know your limits and stick to them. If you know that you’re a lightweight, don’t even consider drinking if you plan to drive. If you do have a pretty good tolerance for alcohol, know when to refuse another round. Remember that you’re trying to avoid not just a DUI arrest, but hurting yourself and other people, too. Make the commitment to have just one beer or whatever your limit is and not base your continued consumption on whether you still feel okay. The long and short of it, however, is that abstinence is still the best way to avoid a DUI.
  • Designate a sober driver. Carpooling can be fun, and it’s definitely a safer way for you to get to and from a party, provided you pick a designated driver. It has to be someone who’ll take his role seriously. He has to be someone you trust to have the discipline to refuse all offers of alcoholic drinks. The choice of driver has to be decided before you even leave for the party so you’re not left scrambling to find the most sober member of your group when you’re ready to go.
  • Research holiday checkpoints. While you don’t have plans of driving inebriated, you would probably prefer to skip the possibility of being tested. Nonetheless, there will be a lot of police activity on the road during the holidays.

On the other hand, if you’re hosting an Holiday Parties, it behooves you to do the following:

  • Remind guests to assign a sober driver when they RSVP.
  • Ensure that you have sober drivers to give tipsy guests a ride home.
  • Stop serving alcohol an hour before your party is expected to end. Ply guests with food and coffee instead in the last hour.
  • Hire an experienced bartender who knows when to cut guests off.
  • Call a cab or utilize a car service for intoxicated guests.
  • If impaired guests insist on driving, take their car keys away. Prepare to have people sleep over.

Keep your holiday partying fun and incident-free. Make sure that you drink and offer drinks responsibly.

Still have questions about keeping the Holiday Parties DUI-Free? Click here for information on Eight Ball Bail Bonds.