| In today's litigious society - and simply because you | | | | with the liquor and also will keep track of how much |
| care - planning the holiday office party must include | | | | someone is getting, and how often and will alert you |
| thoughts toward the safety of guests, especially if | | | | (and cut the person off if need be). You should also |
| you're serving liquor. | | | | move around and check this out yourself. Just as in a |
| Here are some tips to aid your planning: | | | | bar, someone who is showing signs of being tipsy |
| First of all, someone always gets assigned to PLAN | | | | should be denied further liquor. |
| the party, but you need to assign someone to | | | | If you're a manager with Emotional Intelligence, you |
| MONITOR the party. Kind of like the chaperones at | | | | know your people, and should have a good idea of |
| the high school prom. Make sure both parties | | | | who might be trouble, or cause trouble. Spend more |
| understand your requirements for safety. | | | | time with them at the beginning of the party, making |
| Make sure nutritious and filling foods are on the menu, | | | | sure they know you are there (and they know what |
| such as sandwiches, cheese, and sausage. Liquor hits | | | | you know), and then check in with them during the |
| an empty stomach faster; food also provides | | | | event to see, first-hand, how they are doing. |
| something else to do besides drink. Avoid salty snacks | | | | Even if you're offering liquor, it's a smart idea to have |
| because they make us thirsty. The overall atmosphere | | | | plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives. It's also thoughtful |
| does make a difference and you should keep the | | | | as more people these days don't drink. Don't go |
| focus off the liquor. | | | | around encouraging people to "drink up" and don't let |
| Given that this study ( ) showed that the highest | | | | anyone else do it. Sometimes someone will appoint |
| consumption of alcohol occurs in (1) males (2) who | | | | themselves "host with the most," grab a bottle and |
| watch more sports on television and (3) are familiar | | | | start circulating through the crowd topping off glasses. |
| with ads, i.e., have been exposed to them, if you want | | | | Liquor punches are a good idea, especially if they are |
| a disaster (1) set up an open bar where the men can | | | | weak and if they are fruit-juice based because that will |
| pour their own drinks, (2) add a bigscreen TV with | | | | cause the alcohol to be absorbed more slowly into the |
| sports showing, (3) put out a few bowls of salted | | | | blood stream. Know who is making the punch and |
| peanuts and popcorn, and (3) promote it beforehand | | | | what they are putting in it. It's an old college trick to use |
| as a You-Know-Wink-Wink, and allow others to talk it | | | | Everclear, because it's cheap plus has a higher liquor |
| up that way. This means that if you affair has the | | | | content. |
| reputation of being a Big Drunk, you need to make | | | | Ask guests to appoint designated drivers, and if any |
| sure they know this year it isn't going to be like that. | | | | guests are too inebriated at the end of the party to |
| To alleviate this situation, consider adding games, | | | | drive safely, in your opinion, call a taxi, assign them to a |
| gift-giving, a lavish buffet where the emphasis is on the | | | | sober driver, drive them home, or tell them they'll be |
| Australian Rack of Lamb and Russian caviar from Il | | | | sleeping over. If your party's in a hotel, you can book |
| Tuscano (etc.) and add entertainment, preferably of | | | | some rooms ahead of time as contingency. The |
| the more sedate type. Breaking up the party from | | | | money spent on taxis and rooms is well worth it |
| time-to-time with these events works well too. People | | | | considering the cost of a life, or a lawsuit. |
| won't tend to stand in line at the bars as often. | | | | You should close the bar and stop serving drinks at |
| Take a lead in monitoring and directing pre-party | | | | least 90 minutes before the stated end of the party |
| anticipatory discussion around the water cooler. Be | | | | (without announcing a "last call".). It's a good time to |
| present and listen up! You can redirect just like you | | | | bring out a nice dessert and coffee. You should be |
| would with a bunch of 4-year-olds getting heavy into | | | | aware that coffee doesn't sober anyone up, but it |
| the poo-poo jokes. Move in, physically, and then | | | | signals a change of scene and also buys time - which |
| change the subject if it doesn't change on its own. | | | | does sober people up. |
| Do NOT let guests mix their own drinks. Instead plant | | | | It's emotionally intelligent to take precautions to make |
| your own carefully-chosen bartender who is chintzy | | | | your holiday party not only successful, but safe. |