You're having a party and alcohol will be served. You're hosting a social for a friend and alcohol will be served. Or maybe you hold a Special Occasion Permit and have organized a public concert where alcoholic drinks will be served. Whatever the occasion, it sounds like a lot of fun and the evening will surely be a success. Or will it? Changing legal attitudes in Canada now hold those who serve alcohol responsible for the actions of those being served. The fact is, you could be sued if someone who was served alcohol at your special event falls down the stairs or is hurt in an automobile accident on the way home. Don't let your party or special event be ruined. Become informed about the risk of alcohol-related liability and actions you can take to decrease your risk of being sued.
Being a good host means protecting your guests, yourself & others, as well as having a good time. As a host, know your potential legal liability and how to minimize alcohol related problems the generate civil suits. More & More courts are placing legal responsibility on people who serve alcohol or host events where people are drinking.
* You can be held responsible for injuries or damages that occur as a result of the alcohol you provide and for what happens to guests when they are in your home or on your property.
* You are also responsible for your guests at other functions that you organize, such as weddings, street parties, and company parties.
* What most people don't know is that you are responsible for the safety and behaviour of your guests until they are sober, not just until they leave your party or function.
1. DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH YOURSELF!
2. Plan ahead so that it's easy to try some of these tips!
3. Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the party is over!
4. Find out how guests will be going home from your party!
5. Plan to deal with guests who drink too much!
6. Mix drinks yourself instead of having an open bar!
7. Be prepared for overnight guests!
8. Serve Snacks
9. Have low-alcohol and alcohol-free cocktails and drinks available too!
10. Don't plan physical activities, like swimming, skiing, snowmobiling and skating when youy serve alcohol!
Helping to promote better, safer parties and special events in Northwestern Ontario
The Northwestern Health Unit in partnership with their FOCUS Coalitions in Red lake and the Rainy River District, along with the C.O.R.E. program in Ignace, The Mayor's Committee for the Prevention of Substance Abuse in Dryden, and Kenora and area Addiction Awareness Committee, is helping to raise awareness in Northwestern Ontario of changing legal attitudes in Canada which hold those who serve alcohol responsible for the actions of those being served. Responding to a clear trend in Canada towards expanding the scope of alcohol-related liability, the "Party Pak" has been developed to help Special Occasion Permit holders or anyone hosting a party become informed about the risk of alcohol-related liability and actions they can take to make special events more safe.
The "Party Pak" is based on health concepts promoted by the Province of Ontario in its "Low Risk Drinking Guidelines" released in October 1997. The Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines recommend drinking limits for healthy people who choose to drink and who are of legal drinking age. According to the Guidelines, people taking certain medications, pregnant women, people who operate machinery, or with certain health problems, should not drink at all. Both men and women should drink no more than 2 standard drinks per day in order to minimize the risk of alcohol-related problems such as health and social problems, injuries and alcohol dependence. Men should limit their weekly intake to 14 or fewer standard drinks, and women should limit their intake to 9. "0-2-9-14 What is your risk level?" is the slogan for the "Party Pak." It is intended to reflect the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines while also peaking interest in the contents of the "Party Pak."
The contents of the "Party Pak" include information about host liability, drinking and driving, recipes for non-alcoholic drinks, the importance of offering food, taxi vouchers for transporting guests home safely and other gift items such as coasters and a shot glass to encourage proper measuring. Party hosts and Special Occasion Permit holders are encouraged to stop by participating local LCBO stores in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts and pick up a free copy of the Pak.
Changes to the Criminal Code in the 1970s combined with a hardening of public attitudes towards impaired driving and alcohol-related mishaps, have created an environment where it is not uncommon for people to be sued for the harm caused or suffered by their intoxicated guests or patrons.
Pete Sarsfield, Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit, applauds the efforts of community partners to help ensure parties and special events in Northwestern Ontario are safer. The "Party Pak," says Sarsfield, "addresses liability, in that it gives people ways to host safer parties to reduce their risks."
Peter Marshall, executive director at the Mary Berglund Community Health Center, which administers the C.O.R.E. program, adds "this is a valuable opportunity for us to partner with the Northwestern Health Unit especially now that the busy summer season is here."
"Clearly, we have a problem with drinking in Northern Ontario" corroborates Bob Jeffery, Health Planner for the Northwestern Health Unit. People in Northern Ontario drink more often and are more likely to binge drink. Jeffery says "Most people in our area would not consider 5 drinks per occasion to be binge drinking, but it is".
Special Occasion Permit holders or party hosts are invited to contact the C.O.R.E. Program for more information about the risks associated with alcohol use. Party Paks can be picked up at participating LCBO stores in communities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.