Michigan Liquor Control Commission Offers Tips on How to Host a Responsible Football Party

Contact: Andrea Miller 517-322-5898

Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

February 3, 2011 - The Big Game is one of the most widely watched events in sports, and the number one at-home party event of the year. It is also one of the most dangerous for alcohol related incidents.

"The Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) is reminding football fans that if your plans include alcohol, make the right decision before kickoff and plan for safe celebrations by remembering these hosting tips," said MLCC Chairperson Nida R. Samona. "It is the law and our duty to be safe and responsible, so please drink responsibly." 

• Have designated drivers. Plan to have sober drivers at your party who can escort folks home. Volunteer to be a sober driver at someone else's party. 
• Plan ahead to get keys. Prepare a basket or bowl where all of your guests can leave their keys. You are the only person who can retrieve the keys. This way, you can prevent a guest who drank too much from getting behind the wheel. 
• Have a cab fare fund. Having available cash to pay cab fare for your guests if they need it reduces the stress on you. If you can't afford to pay for it yourself, ask your guests to pitch in a few bucks on your invitation. 
• Have a phone number for a cab company handy. Print the name of a local cab company on your invitation and ask your guests to program it into their mobile phones. 
• Purchase non-alcoholic beverages. Always have soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages available for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink. 
• Plan to be sober. Be a responsible host. Limiting your own alcohol intake will allow you to better determine if a guest is sober enough to drive at the end of the night. 
• Don't serve alcohol to minors. The legal drinking age is 21 and, as a host, it is your responsibility to make sure minors aren't drinking. 
• Don't force drinks on your guests. Also, don't rush to refill their glasses when empty. Be a smart host; push the food, not the alcohol on your guests. 
• Food is the key. Always serve food with alcohol. It is proven that food can help counter the effects of alcohol. 
• Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party ends. Serve only coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages as the party comes to a close. As the host or hostess, it is your responsibility to help your guests get home safely, so limit the amount of alcohol served toward the end of the party as guests prepare to leave or go home.

For more information about responsible consumption, visit our website www.michigan.gov/lcc, or visit The Century Council Web site at www.centurycouncil.org.

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