Responsible party hosts know that holiday celebrations don't have to center on alcoholic drinks. Good cheer can be experienced with few alcoholic beverages or none.

The best parties are those that are well planned and take into account who's on the guest list, said Jerry Jaker, executive director of the Minnesota Institute of Public Health in Mounds View, Minn. The best parties let guests know that "a drink" doesn't necessarily mean an alcoholic drink. Especially with children and nondrinkers present, it's important to offer an attractive variety of nonalcoholic beverages. In fact, with children on hand, strongly consider an alcohol-free party.

As a party host, let your guests know up front that they don't have to have an alcoholic beverage. If you offer drinks upon their arrival, begin by listing a range of nonalcoholic beverages followed by drinks with alcohol.

An excellent approach is to avoid letting alcohol dominate your entertainment. You can welcome guests and "break the ice" by directing them to people they know or to games or activities that will engage them. Once they're relaxed they can choose a beverage based on taste rather than a need to relieve social anxiety.

The nonalcoholic drink should be presented as equally appealing as an alcoholic beverage. For instance, offering wine in long-stemmed crystal glasses appears more attractive than soda pop offered in cans. The possible implication: Wine is more important and thus more desirable.

A great way to prevent over-served guests is to designate someone to serve drinks. Do not have an open bar, Jaker suggests, because people tend to imbibe more when pouring their own drinks. A bartender can limit the amount, frequency and stiffness of the drinks.

Party hosts need not offer guests a limitless supply of alcoholic drinks; figure on one or two drinks per guest who drinks. Nothing can ruin a party faster than an inebriated guest who becomes obnoxious, unruly or ill. Intoxicated guests can change the mood of a party. People start feeling uncomfortable and often think they have to watch what they say or do.

"When Uncle George gets tipsy, it's neither comical nor cute," said Jaker. "You don't want to laugh off Uncle George." Always be on alert for signs of excessive drinking. If necessary, inform the overindulgent guest that he or she has had enough, and do it graciously. Enlist the help of a spouse or friend if necessary to get the message across.

Bear in mind it's not always the number of drinks that impairs driving ability. As few as two drinks may compromise driving ability for some guests. Medication, body weight, amount of food eaten, fatigue, health, and mental attitude can all play a factor in the way a body responds to alcohol. You can help prevent guests from drinking too much by limiting salty, thirst-inducing appetizers. Generous helpings of cheese, meat, vegetables, and fruits are nutritious and help absorb alcohol.

If in spite of your best efforts a guest has drunk too much, do everything possible to prevent him or her from driving. That might mean asking a sober guest to drive an impaired one home or having the person stay in your home until they're sober.

Holiday parties offer adults an opportunity to serve as good role models for children. "In homes where alcohol is not the focus of holiday celebrations, children are less likely to grow up thinking that drinking is the key ingredient to having a good time," said Kris Vanhoof-Haines, a prevention services specialist at Hazelden in Center City, Minn. "Kids are keenly aware of persons whose anti-drinking talk conflicts with their behavior. Parents need to walk their talk when it comes to alcohol use. Kids really question and challenge their parents when they're being sent mixed messages."           

The Minnesota Prevention Resource Center, a regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resources Network funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, offers two pamphlets as guides to responsible party hosting: "Nonalcoholic Party Drinks" ($3.50), which provides recipes for attractive nonalcoholic beverages and hosting tips, and "Recipe for a Successful Party" (50 cents), which offers tips for party hosts. To order copies, call 1-800-782-1878 or visit http://www.emprc.org/.

--Published December 1, 2003