Insurance Insights ~ December 1999

Having a Party? Be a Responsible Host

Many occasions throughout the year call for the gathering of friends and family. This is especially true of the holidays. For many people, good food and "cheery" beverages are a must during the holiday season. But too many "cheery" alcoholic beverages can lead to one more tragic alcohol-related traffic accident when the party is over and guests drive home.

Monitoring alcohol consumption at a party is an important part of the host’s responsibility. Attitudes and laws have changed, recognizing drinking and driving as a serious crime. While each guest is certainly responsible to monitor their alcohol consumption, as a host, it is your responsibility to prevent any of your guests from drinking too much and then driving. The courts can hold adult hosts liable for any injury or damage caused by intoxicated persons to whom they have provided alcohol.

Great parties begin with advance planning by the host. Invite guests who have common personality traits, thereby curbing over-drinking by guests who are restless, shy or have little in common with the other guests. Have a variety of activities for guest participation. Popular suggestions are scavenger hunts, card playing, table tennis, charades, dancing, board games, movies, theme parties, etc.

One tactic to prevent excessive drinking is to serve plenty of good food. Try theme oriented parties such as Mexican, Italian, American, Soul or Oriental. Recommended party foods are high in protein and carbohydrate content. These include pastas, cheeses, meats, crackers, and breads. Foods such as these stay in the stomach longer, allowing the body to absorb alcohol more slowly. Make sure your food supply is plentiful and available throughout the duration of the party.

The easiest way to avoid any alcohol-related problems is to have an alcohol-free party. There are so many delicious non-alcoholic party cocktail recipes available, you may find this a viable option. Below are a few non-alcoholic drink recipes to offer at your party.

Make serving alcohol a major responsibility. Being a responsible host means you must set the limits on drinking. The amount of alcohol consumed and the weight and general health of the guest can determine the effect alcohol has on each guest. Some guests will tell you they can "hold their liquor." Prevent the over-serving of alcohol by following these tips:

• Designate some you trust to abide by the rules you set and act as bartender or hire a professional bartender.
• Use smaller cups and glasses when serving alcohol.
• Don’t allow guests to serve themselves.
• Don’t allow at-risk guests to be served alcohol.
• Measure alcohol carefully to eliminate serving overly strong drinks.
• Use plenty of ice and non-carbonated mixers such as fruit juice, which slows alcohol absorption.
• Do not use pitchers; serve only one drink at a time.
• Stop serving alcohol a minimum of one hour before the party ends and continue to serve non-alcoholic drinks and food. This allows guests added time to mingle with their friends and time for you to observe behavior and make preparations for those who should not drive themselves home.
• As the host, you need to stay sober yourself. You can’t handle others if you are not able to handle yourself.
• And, never, under any circumstances, serve alcohol to minors.

Finally, the party is over and despite all your precautions, an impaired guest wants to drive home. What can you do?

• Identify in advance those guests who are willing to be designated drivers. Rely on those people to help get impaired guests home safely.
• Drive the person home yourself.
• Call a taxicab.
• Ask the guest to spend the night.
• Mention the danger to themselves and others and possible arrest by police for driving under the influence (DUI).
• If all else fails, take away the car keys until the guest is sober.
• Never allow other guests to ride home with a guest who is impaired. Some guests feel obligated to go home with the person who drove them to the party. You can help these guests out of a touchy situation by finding them alternate transportation. This way you may prevent an innocent person from becoming the victim. It can also help convince the driver that he or she should not be driving.

Being a responsible host is the best thing you will do for yourself and your guests. Planning ahead makes for a safe party!

Strawberry-Orange Frosty

2 scoops crushed ice
10 fresh or frozen strawberries
4 oz. Fresh squeezed orange juice
1 oz. Simple syrup*

Combine in blender; blend until smooth. Serve with orange twist and strawberry garnish.

*Simple syrup: In saucepan, combine 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water and bring to a boil until sugar dissolves. Boil gently for 5 minutes. Makes about 2 cups and will keep up to 6 months in refrigerator.

Cranberry-Orange Nog

1 scoop crushed ice
2 oz. Cranberry juice
2 oz. Fresh squeezed orange juice
2 oz. Cream or Half & Half
_ oz. Simple syrup (above)

Combine in blender; blend until smooth. Serve in 12-ounce glass. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon and garnish with _ orange slice.

Tomato Bull

Salt the rim of a 10-ounce glass. Fill glass with ice cubes. Squeeze and drop in 1 fresh lemon wedge. Squeeze and drop on 1 fresh lime wedge. Fill with Bloody Mary mix and garnish with a celery stick.

Holiday Parking Safety Tips

Another holiday season is upon us! You know what this means -- holiday shoppers will be flocking to malls and shopping centers so that they can fill their wish lists. Unfortunately, your shopping trip could include a host of careless drivers, thieves, carjackers, and vandals, who consider these packed areas full of prime targets.

It is especially important to be informed and to use caution when heading out to do your shopping. This year, while checking your shopping list, remember to review the following cautionary tips that can provide simple safety sense in these high target areas.

• Watch out for cars that might be cutting diagonally across the aisles.
• Watch Post Office parking lots. There is a very high incidence of accidents due to frequent customer turnover.
• Don’t take up two spots. This will only gain retribution from angry shoppers.
• During the day, park away from buildings to reduce the chance of dings from car doors or shopping carts -- but avoid secluded areas, especially at night.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Always close car windows and lock the doors.
• Always have your keys ready when approaching your car, and check the back seat and under the car before getting into it.
• Put all packages and bags in the trunk. Do not keep them where they will be visible to thieves.
• Shop with a buddy. Criminals are looking for an easy victim, and having a buddy makes for uneven odds.
• Everyone is in a hurry or preoccupied, so check and double-check before backing out of your parking space. The person parked across from you may be trying to back out at the same time, or a pedestrian may have suddenly walked behind your car.
• Judge carefully, improper backing results in a surprising number of accidents.
• Drive cautiously in parking aisles -- someone backing out may not see you or a child may dart out. Be prepared to stop suddenly.

By taking a few extra minutes to follow the above tips, you can help protect yourself during this seasons shopping trips and ensure a safe, happy holiday season for you and your family.

Chimney Check-up

Before you strike the match for your first fire of the season, make sure that your chimney has had its annual checkup! By having your chimney professionally cleaned and checked you will ensure the safe function and efficiency of your furnace, fireplace or stove.

A professional chimney cleaner can check for cracks or breaks in the lining and in the mortar between bricks in your chimney. These cracks allow water to seep in and can rust the damper and damage your ceilings! Pre-built fireplaces have metal liners that should be checked for warping, crinkling or disintegration.

Next, the chimney will be cleared of any debris. Debris in the chimney will cause blockages resulting in the build-up of dangerous fumes such as carbon monoxide inside the home. Creosote build-up will also be removed from the chimney at the same time. This tar-like residue builds up on the inside of the chimney as wood is burned. The chimney sweep will use a long wire brush to scrape this buildup from the flue, and to scour the damper.

To make sure that creosote does not build up too quickly, burn only seasoned hardwood, and build smaller, hotter fires. Never burn wrapping papers, cardboard or trash.

Now that your chimney has a clean bill of health, it’s time to start that furnace or light a cozy fire, relax, and enjoy a safe burning season.

INSURANCE INSIGHTS is an electronic newsletter published monthly by G. C. Weimer Associates, Inc. Information contained herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief as of 12/1/99. If you have a topic of interest for a future issue, e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.