Be a Responsible Labor Day Party Host

According to statistics, the most dangerous time on the road for people hoping to avoid drunk drivers is Labor Day weekend. Throughout the year, a person has a chance of being in an accident with a driver who is impaired about once every 51 minutes. During Labor Day Weekend, that risk jumps to 1 accident every 34 minutes.

Law enforcement officials in Charlotte and across the rest of the country are aware of this. If you have seen more patrol cars than usual sitting on the median of the highway, you aren’t imagining things. Police are out in greater numbers as the summer dwindles down. The goal is clear: Get drunk drivers off the road.

Thanks to targeted enforcement, there is an average decline in these types of accidents of about 20 percent. It’s still not enough. The more people that make wise choices, the fewer people will be injured. According to MADD, there are ways to host a Labor Day party that will help to ensure that your guests aren’t putting people at risk.

1. Be a Responsible Host With Plenty of Non-Alcoholic Options

You don’t have to serve only alcohol at your party. There are a variety of mocktail recipes easily found online that are fun and easy to make, and they do not have alcohol. Provide soft drinks and water as well.

2. The Right Food

Salty snacks will have your guests reaching for the nearest drink over and over. If you are serving alcohol, keep the food light but plentiful. Think fresh fruit and chopped vegetables. Cheese cubes and other bite-sized snacks are a great option – just make sure the snacks are not salty. Serving food will also help keep drinking to a minimum. People will full stomachs tend to drink less.

3. Have a Plan

Your guests should have a plan for getting home should they become too intoxicated to drive. Have your guests jot down their plan and send it to you along with their RSVP. Having a plan is far more useful than trying to come up with a way home at the end of the party.

4. Stay Sober

It’s your party and you can cry if you want to, but why would you? You’ll have no reason to get upset when you know that all of your guests are safe. Instead of acting as a designated driver, act as a designated host. Skip the alcohol and stay sober. By doing this, you can keep a better eye on your guests and handle anyone who thinks that they are okay to drive when they really aren’t.

If you happen to be involved in an accident in Charlotte and a drunk driver is found to be at fault, you have rights. Call our office today to schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation. We will review the details of your accident and advise you of your legal rights. You may be entitled to damages for medical bills, lost wages and more.