Resources

Responsible Party Planning
Planning a party or gathering of friends and family often involves much though and attention to detail. Serving alcohol beverages at your party requires extra effort to ensure they are consumed moderately and responsibly by your guests.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you provide a safe and enjoyable environment for your guests:

1. Make certain alcohol is consumed by those of legal drinking age only.
2. Make a list of taxicab services and phone numbers in your community.
3. Always serve food with alcohol. Good food not only complements the beverages your guests are consuming but it also moderates the effects of alcohol.
4. In addition to alcohol beverages, provide a variety of drinks including coffee, soft drinks, fruit juice, bottle water and non-alcoholic beer.
5. Never force licensed beverages on your guests. Spacing drinks can help guests stay within their personal limits.
6. Encourage moderate consumption by deciding ahead of time the amount of alcohol beverages to include. Consider how long your event will last and calculate about one beer per hour for each guest.
7. Stop serving alcohol one hour before the party ends. Remember, it takes one hour for the body to metabolize a 12-ounce serving of beer.
8. Consider hiring a bartender trained in professional and responsible serving methods so guests do not pour their own drinks. A trained bartender will be equiped to determine whether a guest has had too much to drink. 
9. Never hesitate to take the keys away from someone who has had too much to drink. Be prepared to call a taxicab or provide a room in your home for a guest to stay over.

America's beer distributors work hard to promote the responsible and legal consumption of malt beverage products. They operate within a strict state-based regulatory system that provides a transparent and accountable chain of custody in the sale of beer, making it easier to enforce state laws and local ordinances.

To request Guide to Responsible Party Planning brochures, please contact NBWA Public Affairs Department at 800-300-6417 or e-mail info@nbwa.org.