Saying good-bye to an old year and welcoming in a new year full of possibilities is a great occasion to pull out your cocktail glasses and favorite cocktail recipes. Whether you insist that your guests dress in their best for your party or your focus is on comfort and a friendly gathering, there are several things you can do to make sure everyone is having a great time.
One: Arrange Rides Ahead of Time
When you plan a party knowing that you’re serving a lot of alcohol, plan ahead. Make sure you have your phone fully charged and that you’ve saved the numbers to your favorite cab companies. You may want to book a cab or two ahead of time unless you don’t mind having a guest crash at your home overnight.
Two: Choose One or Two Cocktails
Serving a full bar can quickly become very expensive. When you want to serve cocktails, limit your offerings to one or two drinks. If guests want something else, you could have wine and beer available. Keep things fun by offering an array of unique and festive garnishes.
Three: Serve Food
A sweet cocktail is a fun way to help your guests get comfortable but serving them in addition to some fun snacks or a meal is a good way to save money and cut down on the next day’s hangovers. A full range of appetizers or hors d’oeuvres can reduce the amount of alcohol you go through and may prevent guests from becoming too inebriated.
Four: Figure Out How Much Alcohol You Need
Your New Year’s party will come to an unhappy end if you run out of food and drinks. Make sure you have plenty of alcohol by considering how many people will attend, how long the party should last, and whether the drinks are the primary focus or just a side attraction. As you make your calculations, give yourself a bit of wiggle room by getting extra ingredients.
Five: Establish Limits
It’s a good idea to avoid becoming very drunk yourself, so you’re able to recognize if one of your guests is making dangerous decisions. You may need to find rides for guests or make decisions about whether a guest should continue drinking. At some point in the night, stop serving your New Years Eve cocktails and switch to soft drinks, tea, or coffee. You may want to hire a professional bartender to help you with this part of the night.
Six: Brush Up on Local Laws
Even if you’re serving alcohol in your home, there are laws that could affect you. Make sure you’re familiar with liquor licensing and service laws in your area. If you’re not sure where to find information about these laws, contact your insurance provider. Protect yourself from “dram shop liability” or social host liability. If you serve alcohol and one of your guests injures someone else, you could be held responsible.
Hosting a party to celebrate a brand-new year is a great way to get your friends and family together. Make sure everyone enjoys themselves and gets home safely by choosing a good selection of drinks and food and by considering the safety of your guests.
