Jan30
Posted by Steve Pajcic in Public Service
Super Bowl Sunday is usually the biggest party weekend in February. Regardless of which teams are playing, many people use the big game as a reason to get together for food, drink and fun. When alcohol is a major component of Super Bowl festivities, it is important to keep safety in mind.
Super Bowl party hosts should take time to work out issues regarding guests who have consumed enough alcohol to endanger themselves or others if they get behind the wheel. Here are nine tips to assist you in keeping your guests and others safe from the hazards of drunk driving.
1. When you send invitations, ask your guests to designate a sober driver.
If any guest cannot provide a designated driver, offer alternatives such as a taxi, one of the sober driver services in your area or let the guest stay the night at your home. The bottom line is never allow guests to drive drunk.
2. Provide the designated drivers with the “best seats in the house.”
It is an advantage to have designated drivers, so reward them with the best viewing seats in your home for the game. Each designated driver should be made easily identifiable, and you can use a name tag with “DD” on it so you know that these guests should not be served alcohol.
3. Serve plenty of food at your party.
People who drink can reduce the effects of alcohol with food. Have many types of snacks, goodies and more substantial food available throughout the party. Offer snacks while the game is on and keep the buffet stocked. Food helps to reduce the effects of alcohol.
4. Have lots of drink choices – not just beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages.
Give your guests drink options such as water, juice and soft drinks. If you are serving mixed drinks with hard liquor, go easy on the amount of liquor, and measure carefully rather than “eyeballing” it. These drinks taste good and may be consumed too fast.
5. One drink at a time.
Serve only one drink at a time to each guest, rather than allowing them to stockpile. This can reduce the amount of alcohol your guests consume, and it will save you money, too.
6. Never serve to anyone under 21.
If you serve alcohol to any person under 21 you could face legal repercussions. If there are young people attending your Super Bowl party, keep an eye on them and make sure they do not gain access to alcohol.
7. Serve dessert and coffee rather than more drinks in the fourth quarter.
Offer coffee, cookies, cupcakes or other types of desserts after the third quarter. NFL stadiums quit serving alcohol after the third quarter, and this is a good policy to follow at your party. No one will complain if you start serving delicious desserts with coffee.
8. If any of your guests are impaired and want to drive anyway, have a plan in place.
One way that can work is to collect car keys at the beginning of the party. It is easier than trying to wrestle them out of the hands of a drunk person who wants to drive home. Work out what you will do if this situation arises before your party starts, and enlist help. An intoxicated person can be difficult to handle, and you want several people available if necessary.
Drive Defensively on Super Bowl Sunday
If you drive on Super Bowl Sunday, your defensive driving skills are more important than ever. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the number of fatal accidents increases on certain dates, including Super Bowl Sunday. During one recent Super Bowl Sunday, 38 percent of the fatal accidents were associated with alcohol.
The NFL, NHTSA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Hero Campaign and Team Coalition have joined together to emphasize the important message: “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.” Heed the message and keep your family and friends safe.
Even if you do everything right, you could still fall victim to a careless drunk driver on Super Bowl Sunday or any other day of the year. If this happens, you should get help from an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss your potential right to compensation for your losses.
