Help Your Guests Stay Out Of The Statistics

MEDIA RELEASE
December 17 2008

Responsible Party Hosts Help Their Guests Stay Out Of The Statistics

Every host wants to throw the perfect party that’s remembered for all the right reasons, but it’s all too easy for party guests to end their night in hospital.

ACC research has shown that if you have three standard drinks (that’s three small glasses of wine) over six hours you are 12 times more likely to be injured in a fall.

“Last year 19,000 people were seriously or moderately injured over the Christmas holidays,” said ACC injury prevention programme manager Karen Scott. “We conservatively estimate that about a quarter of all injuries are alcohol-related, so you can see how alcohol can lead to unfortunate incidents. For party-goers, simple things like making sure you eat, drinking plenty of water or non-alcoholic drinks, and setting yourself a curfew can help keep you from over-indulging,” said Ms Scott.

ALAC Chief Executive Gerard Vaughan said Christmas and summer bring more opportunities than usual to celebrate with friends and family, and they often involve drinking alcohol. “To help keep safe we suggest people know how much they are drinking by setting a limit in advance and watching the size of their drinks. It’s also a good idea to say no to top-ups,” said Mr Vaughan.

Christmas and the holiday season is the perfect time to entertain and be entertained, but there are some simple things hosts can do to make sure their guests stay safe while still having a great time.

“As a host you set the tone for the party, BBQ or get-together. Role model the behaviour you expect from others and look out for your guests – especially young people – around alcohol,” said Mr Vaughan.

1. Make sure there’s plenty of filling, healthy food. Avoid nuts and chips because the salt makes people thirsty and likely to drink more.
2. Have non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks available and don’t over-cater on the alcohol – people drink more if there’s more on offer.
3. Provide entertainment that gets people up and dancing! It’s good for your guests to keep moving and it gives them something to do that’s not drinking.
4. Be aware of fire risks. Brightly lit Christmas trees look gorgeous, but they can go up in flames so check any Christmas lights carefully for faults and don’t leave them on overnight. Also, remember, candles are a common source of house fires – make sure all candles are extinguished before going to bed, and never use them near your Christmas tree or as tree decorations.
5. Help your guests get home safely. Arrange transport, or help guests order taxis. Even better, have them stay over.

“There’s so much about this time of year to be enjoyed, so let’s have fun but stay safe so we can start 2009 off injury-free,” ACC’s Karen Scott said.

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