#partyright

When I was 17, my parents let me visit one of my close friends in Montreal for a weekend. I remember feeling a mix of both excitement and nervousness when I arrived in the heart of downtown Montreal. I wasn’t such a party girl in high school – my idea of a fun Saturday night was staying in and watching a movie. So experiencing the Montreal nightlife was a whole new experience for me.

 My friend and I went to a bumpin’ house party, and I got to meet a lot of her friends. I remember that most people at the party were drinking beer and smoking weed, two things that I had little exposure too. The party was a lot of fun, and it was great to meet new people. Instead of taking a taxi home, we ended up getting a ride from a guy at the party. I was told that he had had nothing to drink. It sounded like a great idea!

 To this day, I cannot shake the gut-wrenching feeling that I had during that car ride home. To say that the driver was speeding would be an understatement. We ran through multiple red lights, swerved uncontrollably and almost hit multiple cars. The fact that I got out of the car in one piece is a miracle in itself. I remember wondering whether the driver had consumed too much alcohol, although at the time I doubted it because he didn’t “seem” wasted when I spoke to him. He didn’t slur his words, and seemed relatively composed.

 I learned the next day that the person who drove me home had in fact consumed multiple drinks at the party. He put a lot of people at risk that night, including other drivers and pedestrians on the road.

 Hanging out with friends and blowing off steam can be a lot of fun. But, when you’re going to a party, it’s always important to plan your ride home ahead of time. Using a designated driver to get home is a great idea, as long as they remain sober throughout the night.

  If you know that you’ll be drinking, here are some tips to help plan a safe ride home:

 Program a cab number into your cellphone!

Beck Taxi: 416 751 5555

Dial 416-TAXICAB to be connected to the nearest taxi operator

Use public transit!

Apps like Rocket Man can tell you of the exact timing of the next bus you need!

Bring a bag and sleepover!

There’s nothing wrong with crashing on a friend’s couch, especially if that means you avoid a drinking and driving scenario! 

 0.05 and DON’T DRIVE!

The Costs and Consequences for Impaired Driving In Ontario

If you’ve been drinking and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) registers from 0.05 to 0.08 on a roadside breath test, you will:

Minimum consequences for drivers convicted of impaired driving or over 0.08 BAC or refusing to provide a breath sample are: 

Criminal record

Increased insurance premiums ($5,000 annually for minimum of three years)

One-year driver license suspension

Back On Track Program (alcohol assessment and education)

And many more! 

Hosting a party? Here’s what you should know:

As a host of a party, you are responsible for what happens to guests when they are in your home or on your property. That means that the responsibility falls on you to ensure that all guests do NOT drink and drive.

 Have low-alcohol and alcohol-free cocktails and drinks available!

For great “mocktail” recipes, check out this link! http://www.epicurious.com/archive/howtocook/dishes/nonalcoholicdrinks

Serve snacks! It is better to eat while drinking than to eat on an empty stomach. Try veggies, cheeses and light dips – they’re great and don’t make your guests thirsty, as salty, sweet or greasy foods do

Be prepared for overnight guests! Get those blankets and sleeping bags ready.

Serve drinks yourself instead of having an open bar. Guests usually drink more when they serve themselves

Plan to deal with guests who drink too much. Ask someone to be prepared to help you before the party gets rolling

Find out how guests will be going home from your party. Be prepared to take away car keys. Know your designated drivers. Have cash and phone numbers ready for taxis

Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the party is over. Bring out more alcohol-free drinks and food instead!

Don’t drink too much yourself! You can stay on top of potential problems better when you can think clearly and act quickly!