Home  |  Search

Hosting a Responsible Party

Everyone likes to have a good time. But in addition to being a fun host you also have a responsibility to be a good citizen and mature host. Use these tips to help ensure your party is fun AND safe.

If Serving Alcohol

• Remember that you can be held legally responsible for your underage guests’ behavior after they leave your party.
• You are also responsible for not serving underage students. Not carding or having a “No Under-21” sign at your party does NOT absolve you of this responsibility. And you could be charged by police.
• Collecting money at your party to help cover alcohol costs (selling cups, taking donations, selling beer, etc.) is ILLEGAL.

Before the party

• Have a guest list. Limit your party to those you know to prevent unwanted behavior and problems.
• Discuss ending time with roommates. Decide who will end the party.
• Appoint a sober monitor. The monitor’s job is to turn away uninvited guests, help enforce house rules, talk with the police if they show up, and watch for drunk drivers.
• Educate yourself about local ordinances for noise, mass gatherings, and alcohol.
• Lock valuables away.
• Notify your neighbors before the day of the party.
• Discuss which food and non-alcoholic drinks you will be serving.

During the party

• Check IDs. Ensure those drinking are legal drinking age. Not carding does NOT release you from legal responsibilities!
• Monitor your guests’ alcohol consumption. Plan how you will intervene to slow down a guest who is drinking too much.
• Call 911 immediately in a case of an emergency.
• Monitor noise levels, parking, trespassing, littering, public urination, and other possible violations to avoid having police called.
• If police arrive, make sure the monitor is the first person the officer sees.
• Allow officers to do their job without interference. Follow all police instructions.

Ending the party

• Tell the monitor to stay by the door to turn away new guests.
• Turn on the lights.
• Change the music or turn it off.
• Stop serving alcohol. Serve only soda, water, or coffee.
• Make sure intoxicated guests are not driving. Call a taxi, or have guests sleep over.
• Encourage guests to leave in small groups of three to four. This will help prevent excessive noise.

After the party

• Make sure your yard and your neighbors’ yards are free from trash, cups, and bottles.
• Talk with your neighbors to see if they experienced any problems from the party. If so, discuss calmly to see how you can resolve the situation.
• End the party and ensure guests get home safely.

Alcohol poisoning

As a party host, you are responsible for your guests’ health. Here are sign that indicate alcohol poisoning, which, if untreated, can lead to death:

• Cold, bluish, clammy skin
• Unresponsive (you can’t wake them up)
• Shallow and/or irregular breathing
• Vomiting
• “Snoring” sounds
• Other danger signs
• Mixing alcohol with medications or drugs
• Collapsing after drinking
• Vomiting and choking

What to do - Call 911 immediately! Do not give the person food or water or your guest may choke.