Being a Good Host

As a good host, you don't want a guest to be in a crash after the party. And if you've been serving alcohol, the law may even find you liable for any damage your guests cause on the way home.

You need to make sure your guests don't drive if they've had too much to drink. Here are a few tips.

• Take "no" for an answer. If you offer guests a drink and they say "no thanks", don't try to change their minds.
• Give your guests a choice. Serve a festive fruit punch or "mocktail" clearly labeled alcohol-free, along with other non-alcoholic juices, sodas and water.
• Don't have an open bar. When all the bottles are out on the table, guests tend to drink more than usual.
• Stay sober. You may need to stop serving drinks to some guests and try to stop them from driving home if you think they have had too much to drink. Being a good host requires judgment and tact-and you won't have either if you are impaired.
• End the party slowly. Stop serving drinks a few hours before the party ends. Instead, serve food and non-alcoholic drinks, and urge your guests to stay to enjoy them.
• Keep cash on hand for cab fares.
• Invite guests to stay overnight.
• Ask guests to plan ahead. When you invite guests, ask them to make plans for getting home safely.