The Singles Party Business

1. Accept only invited guests. If you have an “open party” that anyone off the street can attend, you are begging for trouble. Guests you don’t know do not always have your best interest in mind and may damage or steal your property. Bad behaviour can attract the attention of the police and cause neighbours to be upset.

2. Offer non-alcoholic drinks. A bowl of non-alcoholic punch can be a very appealing drink. Make sure it doesn’t get ‘spiked’ though. Some people can’t or may not want to drink and having soft drink on hand will give them another alternative in case they haven’t come prepared.

3. Have plenty of food available. The more that people are able to eat, the less they tend to drink and it also slows the rate at which the alcohol will take effect. Giving them a plate keeps their hands occupied.

4. Keep the size of your party to one you can manage. Having too many guests often attracts the attention of police and neighbours. Please think about the potential consequences if it gets out of control. How will you feel the next day if someone has been hurt, gets alcohol poisoning or takes an overdose of drugs while under your roof?

5. Be a responsible host. You really should be able to monitor the behaviour, health and safety of your guests. It is possible that you may be held legally responsible if something happens to one of your guests. Make sure you check out what your insurance covers you for prior to the party, just in case something does happen. Don’t let intoxicated guests drive home or leave alone.

6. Monitor your guests activities. Typically, parties in private homes are brought to police attention because of excessive noise. This includes complaints about the level of noise, people yelling, loud music, fights & disturbances, people gathering outside the home causing concern, breaking bottles and littering. Make sure you provide large bins in accessible places for people to throw their empty drink and food containers in.

7. Don’t sell alcohol. If you are selling alcohol or charging admission (selling cups) to enter your home, you have become a bar and are selling / dispensing alcohol without a permit. Another thing to think about is that your private insurance may not cover claims for something that might be considered as a business activity.

8. Keep the drinkers inside. Don’t allow your party guests to leave your home with open bottles of alcohol. They can be issued a citation and will proably attract police attention.

9. Call a taxi company. Keep track of who is coming and going and call a taxi company prior to the night. Notify them you may need their services. Party goers walking around outside your home have a potential to cause all sorts of trouble. Strongly suggest to each person who has been drinking that you are happy and intend to call them a cab.

10. Have support. Have extra people to help you monitor the party. Keep the phone numbers of reliable and responsible people close to the phone in case you need extra support to control the crowd as the night goes on. Don’t be embarrassed if you really lose control and need to call the police yourself…but some thought beforehand goes a long way to making sure that won’t need to happen.

11. Provide entertainment. If people are dancing, they aren’t usually drinking. Give them something to watch or to do. Play games and award prizes like chocolate or candy. A wrapped prize always attracts attention and interest.

12. Be a good role model. Don’t walk around with alcohol when you are a host. Show that you can enjoy yourself without having to get drunk and encourage other people to do the same. Have as many people there as possible who can demonstrate responsible actions. People tend to follow the crowd.

13. Be thoughtful. Parties are supposed to be fun, but the level of fun quickly drops if there is an accident or someone gets hurt. Think in advance of all the possible scenarios and have a contingency plan – just in case. It’s better to have thought in advance and prepared than to be caught out on the night. Intend for your party to be remembered as one of fun and enjoyment, not because of a disaster.