How to Serve Alcohol Responsibly Over the Holidays

The holidays are a time when everyone wants to relax and enjoy themselves, and for many, that includes holiday drinking. However, in the spirit of celebration, we don't always prioritize responsible drinking, which can lead to some not-so-great behavior.

If you’re hosting a gathering between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, it’s important to prioritize both overall party safety and alcohol responsibility. Taking proactive steps (and even completing alcohol safety training courses) can help ensure everyone has a safe, enjoyable time. In this blog, we’ll explain why responsible hosting matters, share practical tips, and even provide a simple alcohol safety holiday hosting checklist.

How Important Is Holiday Drinking Safety? 

Drinking and driving during the holidays is a significant safety problem. Let’s look at the numbers throughout the holiday season to demonstrate the importance of serving responsibly. 

From 2019 to 2023, drunk-driving crashes accounted for 35% of all traffic fatalities during Thanksgiving festivities. You might think that the danger is mainly on Thursday as people head home from their holiday meal or Friday during the shopping rush, but actually, “Thanksgiving Eve” is the deadliest day to drive. Keep this in mind if you’re hosting an early Friendsgiving. 

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), December drunk driving deaths hit a 15-year high in 2022. The worst concentration of accidents occurs after December 13th, as holiday celebrations intensify. 

But New Year’s is – to no one’s surprise – the worst night of the year for responsible drinking. On New Year’s Eve, an average of 54 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes, compared to 36 people on any other day, according to the NHTSA. 

The main dilemma presented by holiday drinking is that people are more likely to drink and more likely to overindulge. People who consume little throughout the rest of the year will partake, and they may not be as aware of their limits and level of intoxication.

In other cases, regular drinkers might get carried away or find themselves in a situation they normally avoid. For example, taxi services may be hard to procure, so driving buzzed might seem more tempting. Winter weather certainly doesn’t help matters. 

What Are Host Alcohol Laws? 

Naturally, you want all your friends and family to have a great time and get home safely. But if you need an incentive to be extra careful, here it is: you can be held legally liable for guests’ actions.

If minors get hold of a drink at your party, or, in some states, if you overserve an adult and someone gets hurt, you could be held liable for any personal injuries, medical expenses, property damage, or wrongful death that occurs.

More than two-thirds of all states have social host liability laws for alcohol of some kind. In most cases, these laws allow civil suits against private hosts who serve alcohol irresponsibly. 

Even in states that have no social host liability, you may be liable under common negligence laws. These laws are similar to dram shop laws that apply to bars and restaurants – typically, only a wronged third party can sue, not the intoxicated person themselves. However, in some states, violating host responsibility laws can also result in criminal penalties charged by the state. 

For example, in Massachusetts, furnishing or knowingly allowing alcohol to be provided or consumed by someone under 21 (who is not your child or grandchild) on property you control is a criminal offense, punishable by up to $2,000 in fines, up to 1 year in jail, or both, under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 138, Section 34 (M.G.L. c. 138 § 34). 

In some states, private hosts are only liable if they furnish alcohol to minors, but in others, they’re liable if minors are drinking on the premises at all, regardless of where they got the booze.

Even if your guests are all drinking-age adults, you want to practice alcohol safety to be sure no one drives drunk, gets alcohol poisoning, or makes a mistake they can’t take back.

How to Serve Alcohol Responsibly at a Holiday Party  

Now that you understand why any alcohol-serving party host should protect themselves from liability, how do you do so without being a total buzzkill?

Know the Facts

There are a lot of myths out there about what affects your level of intoxication and how to sober up faster, so it’s important to know what’s true and what’s a dangerous misconception.

For example, certain actions – like drinking coffee or splashing cold water – will help you “feel” more sober but won’t lower your blood alcohol content (BAC).

Knowledge is the best weapon in your host responsibility arsenal.

Offer Food Before and During Drinks

Drinking alcohol with a full stomach slows its absorption, so encouraging guests to eat before (and as) they start in on the bubbly can prevent intoxication. Provide lots of snack options throughout the night so that everyone can find something they want to graze on.

Eating after alcohol consumption won’t sober you up, but it can occupy a guest long enough for their body to clear their blood alcohol.

Standardize Drink Strength

Serving a strong drink might sound like the way to your guests’ hearts, but this can lead to accidental overconsumption even with people who know their limits. There’s a reason bartenders measure the alcohol in a mixed drink.

Your guests can regulate their own consumption more reliably if you’re serving standard drinks.

Avoid Binge Activities

Restrict guests to only one drink at a time. Discourage drinking games, contests, shots, or rapid drinking.

Offer Alternatives

Offer soft drinks, fruit juices, water, and coffee so your guests can alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to regulate their blood alcohol. If you’re offering cocktails, include some mocktail options so everyone can still enjoy the experience. 

Look for Signs of Intoxication

Monitor guests for signs of intoxication to determine if they’ve had too much or need to slow down for a while. This is especially important as the party winds down or as individuals leave early.

Have a Breathalyzer On Hand

The problem with judging someone’s intoxication based on their symptoms is that people with a “high tolerance” will show fewer symptoms even if they’re over the legal limit.

This is why having a breathalyzer can be the ultimate tool for holiday party safety. You’ll have an objective measure of safety, and if someone’s BAC is too high to drive, it’s an undeniable fact.

This measure sounds extreme, but it doesn’t have to involve a bouncer at the door refusing to let people out. Taking a breathalyzer test is a novelty for many people, and you can make a game of it. You can also combine this with the socially accepted “hand over your keys” trick to ensure that no one drives home under the influence.

Know When to Refuse Alcohol

A great tip for preventing drunk driving during the holidays is to not be afraid to stop serving alcohol to anyone who is visibly intoxicated or consuming more than is safe. Most people respond well to gentle suggestions or discouragement, but some guests may need you to be blunt and firm.  

However, refusing service is important even if the guest is not driving; drunk driving isn’t the only way an impaired guest can cause injury to themselves or others.

Provide Alternatives to Driving Home

Plan and be prepared to provide alternate solutions for impaired guests.

This may include:

• Asking groups or couples who their designated driver is as they arrive
• Having someone volunteer to DD any guests who need to be taken home
• Call someone an Uber, Lyft, or taxi on your own dime or theirs
• Offer them a place to spend the night

Although you don’t want to embarrass intoxicated guests, it can be helpful to have witnesses to your suggestions and offers in case they refuse and cause a problem that’s out of your control. Being able to prove that you took steps to host responsibly is an important part of avoiding liability.

Holiday Hosting Checklist for Alcohol Safety 

Here’s a quick and easy checklist to refer to when hosting your holiday party this year: 

Before the Party:

☐ Know your state’s social host laws (especially for underage drinking)

☐ Brush up on alcohol safety myths vs. facts

☐ Purchase enough food and snacks to encourage eating before and during drinking

☐ Stock up on non-alcoholic drinks (soda, juice, mocktails, water, etc.)

☐ Prepare standard-strength cocktails or limit self-serve options

☐ Have a breathalyzer available (optional but useful)

☐ Set up a space for overnight guests, just in case

 

During the Party:

☐ Greet guests and casually ask about designated drivers (when applicable)

☐ Serve food alongside alcohol from the beginning

☐ Offer mocktails and encourage alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

☐ Keep an eye out for intoxication—slurred speech, imbalance, aggression, etc.

☐ Discourage drinking games, shots, or chugging contests

☐ Politely cut off any guests who appear visibly intoxicated

☐ Avoid refilling glasses without measuring or tracking intake
 

As Guests Leave: 

☐ Offer a breathalyzer test if someone seems unsure about driving

☐ Call a rideshare or taxi for impaired guests (or help arrange a sober ride)

☐ Offer a place to stay for anyone who can’t get home safely

☐ Document or have a witness for any suggestions you make to prevent liability 

Learn More About Responsible Alcohol Service With TIPS  

Although you may be new to the process of hosting responsibly, the hospitality industry has tackled these problems for decades, with its business on the line.

How so? Most businesses require bartenders and servers to complete responsible alcohol server training to learn what affects blood alcohol content, the signs of intoxication, local regulations that apply, how to track guests’ drinking, and how to gracefully refuse service and de-escalate contact.

Online courses like TIPS provide practical solutions at a reasonable price, and they’re not restricted to professionals. If you want to bolster your knowledge and reduce your liability, you can purchase a TIPS passport today and educate yourself in alcohol safety. 

Enroll today!