Staying safe in the silly season

21 December 2010

The end of the year can be a time of fun, socialising and relaxation, but it can also be a time for overindulgence. This alert gives some key tips and useful resources for staying safe during the "silly season".

Tips for partying safely

This time of year is often full of social engagements and gatherings. Regardless of the type of event, when getting together with friends or work colleagues, it is important to take steps to ensure that everyone stays safe. Whether you are a host or a guest, you have rights and responsibilities around alcohol and other drugs.

Some general tips for hosts:

• Ensure that food is always available, and avoid salty snacks that make people thirsty.
• Supply a range of non-alcoholic drinks and low-alcohol drinks throughout the event.
• Provide activities such as dance music, karaoke and/or sports to keep your guests entertained.
• Recruit some "helpers" who can assist you keeping an eye on guests. These helpers should know what to do if problems arise. Make sure they know where the phone and emergency numbers are.

Some general tips for guests:

• Make sure you eat either before or during the function, so that you are not drinking on an empty stomach.
• Control your alcohol intake by drinking low-alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks.
• If bringing drinks, don't over-cater with alcohol, and consider bringing non-alcoholic drinks as well.
• Plan in advance how you are going to get home, and be prepared to change the plan if a designated driver is intoxicated.
  
  

Alcohol in the workplace: The Good Hosts program

Workplace corporate events and hospitality functions are potentially high risk environments for alcohol and other drug-related harms, such as negative short and long-term health effects, violence, and drink driving. Such risks can adversely affect staff and client safety and relationships, workplace productivity and industrial relations, together with the organisation's reputation in the wider business and social community.

The Australian Drug Foundation's Good Hosts program has been designed to improve alcohol management at corporate events and hospitality functions.

Getting help

The end-of-year break can also be a good time to reflect on your own, or another's, substance use. If you'd like to make a change, there are many organisations and services that offer help and support.

Further information and resources

Alcohol and work website

• DrugInfo fact sheet: Australian guidelines for low risk drinking
• DrugInfo fact sheet: The facts about binge drinking

• DrugInfo fact sheet: Safe partying for all ages
• DrugInfo fact sheet: What is a standard drink?
• The Safe Party Guide tip sheets
• Championship Moves
• The Right Mix
• Victoria Police Partysafe program
• Youth Central: Celebrating safely
  

More information about alcohol and other drugs can be found at DrugInfo.

News and events

Parenting strategies: preventing adolescent alcohol misuse is a new website which includes parenting guidelines to help parents prevent or reduce their adolescent child's alcohol use, consistent with the Australian alcohol guidelines.

The Australian Drug Foundation bookshop and DrugInfo resource centre will be closed from Monday 20 December 2010, and will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2011.

The office of the Australian Drug Foundation will be closed from Friday 24 December 2010 and will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2011.