For many, the holidays present the perfect opportunity to enjoy the company of colleagues, close friends, and family. However, this season also sees a spike in alcohol-related reckless driving cases, leading to arrests and legal troubles. If you're hosting an event soon, here's how you can ensure guests have the time of their lives without compromising their safety.

How to Keep Guests From Driving Drunk After Holiday Parties

1. Set Ground Rules

Prepare a list of rules before you invite your first guest. As a host, you can encourage or even require people to bring a designated driver if they plan to consume alcohol. Alternatively, you can have your own sober driver on standby for those who can't come with one.

To further reduce incidences of reckless driving, request guests to say goodbye to you before leaving the venue. This way, you can confirm whether it's safe for them to get behind the wheel. Also, ask guests or their designated drivers to let you know when they arrive home safely.

2. Be Responsible for Your Guests

While you may not be held responsible for reckless driving by a drunk guest over 21 years old, you may be accountable for a car crash involving an intoxicated guest who is below this legal age. As such, it's only proper that you monitor how much alcohol your guests are consuming. Don't be afraid to cut off someone who's had too much to drink and intervene when inebriated guests insist on driving themselves. You can ask another person to be their designated driver, call a cab, or ask the police for assistance.

3. Provide Nonalcoholic Beverages

Drinking alcohol isn't the only way to ensure your guests have a fantastic time. There are plenty of nonalcoholic beverages they can enjoy, such as soda and seasonal drinks. You can also serve mocktails, which look like cocktails but contain no alcohol. Also, offer guests plenty of food to hamper the effects of intoxication.

4. Have a Last Call for Alcohol

About an hour before your event ends, refrain from serving alcohol and start offering tea, coffee, and snacks instead. This gives them time to get the alcohol out of their systems and sober up before leaving the bash.

If you find yourself dealing with the consequences of poor choices, turn to David S. Washington Jr. The firm’s dedicated attorneys understand that everyone has the right to a first-rate defense, and they handle cases involving reckless driving, traffic tickets, OVI arrests, and drug charges in Hamilton, Butler, and Warren counties, OH. Call the law office today at (513) 751-1400 for a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney, or visit their website to explore their services.