These days more and more hosts are being held accountable for actions of the party goers after they leave the party. An unprecedented number of cases have gone to trial in civil as well as criminal courts. You can be held responsible for damages and/or injuries that occur as the result of the alcohol you serve during your party to your guests. Please remember you are ultimately responsible for your guest's actions when they leave your home as a result of what happens in your home earlier. This issue is not just centered around the host's home. If you have a wedding in a hall, or New Year's party at your place of employment, the host will be held accountable for the actions of others after they leave your party. Meaning, if they drank at your party you could be held responsible for their actions until they are totally sober. The solution is to be a smart host as well a good host.
The first thing you should consider is your own quantity of drinking. As the host you should drink less than most of your guests. This will ensure that you will be able to react quickly and intelligently and make sound judgment to any situation that arises in regards to your guests alcohol consumption.
Next find out how the guests will be getting home. Be ready to take away their keys. You may also have to call them a cab, pay for their cab, ask others to drive them, drive them yourself(if you are sober) or offer them accommodation in your house. Also find out their phone numbers. Maybe you can call their spouse, parents, kids or friends and have them picked up. Find out if they came in groups and if they have designated drivers. Check to see if the designated drivers are able to drive. Sometimes the designated driver needs a designated driver. Some people believe that designated driver describes someone who drank the least. If you drank five drinks instead of ten, that doesn't designate you to drive. All that means is that you have a slightly less chance of getting yourself and others killed or maimed. The designated driver should be sober at all times.
Planning ahead is always a good idea as far as guests safety is concerned. Stop serving alcohol a couple of hours before the end of the party. Serve more food and lots of non-alcoholic beverages closer to the end of your affair. If a guest drank too much, it is a good idea for them to eat some toast or bread and drink as much water or non-alcoholic drinks as possible, so they can dilute the alcohol out of their system until they sober up.
If at all possible try to serve drinks that are mixed and make sure you mix them so they have less alcohol than they usually have. Also, try to serve your guests yourself. Don't just let them help themselves. They will usually drink more if given free access to alcohol.
Try to serve lots of food with alcohol. If guests drink on an empty stomach, it will hit them harder than on a full stomach. If you serve food that is salty, greasy or really sweet, they will definitely drink more.
If you follow the above tips you will significantly reduce the risk of tragedy that is associated with any party where people drink. Consequently this should reduce your liability and your chances of being sued and/or charged.
Please remember there is a third type of consequence that is associated with parties where people drink. Even if you as a host are not charged or sued, do you really want to have a serious injury or death on your conscience. Please do the responsible thing. Don't let your guests drive home drunk.
