Sensible Host & Beverages

Everyone likes to share good times with family and friends, and many times alcohol is part of the fun. As a good host your role goes beyond planning a fun evening for family and friends. If alcohol is served, ensure the event comes to a safe and happy ending by monitoring your guests’ actions and behaviour. Something as simple as a fight or a fall, or something more serious like a car accident, can ruin the fun.

As a guest, you have a responsibility too. Over drinking can ruin a good time for others very easily. You can be the ‘life of the party’ or the ‘joke of the party.’

When planning, here are some tips to help you host a safe and enjoyable party:

1. Never serve alcohol to guests under the legal drinking age. (Currently 18 in NZ)
2. Offer non-alcoholic beverages. Try recipes listed below.
3. Always have plenty of food available, which slows the absorption of alcohol.
4. Have water easily accessible, so guests can help themselves frequently.
5. Never let guests drive after drinking, use a designated driver, have transport arranged or offer accommodation options.
6. Don’t have an open bar.
7. Avoid risky activities while drinking, i.e. swimming, boating, skiing, sledding, etc.
8. Plan activities so drinking is not the main focus.
9. Stop serving alcohol at least one (1) hour before the party stops.
10. Only time reduces affects of alcohol.

Its always a good idea to have some non-alcoholic options.

Here's a few mocktail recipes to try:

Summer Fling
3 parts Orange Juice
1 part Apple Juice
1 part Cranberry juice
Splash lime cordial
Scoop ice
Combine all ingredients in a blender, mix until frothy.
Garnish and serve at once.

Bloody Shame (Virgin Mary)
1/2 tsp. fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/8 tsp. seasoned salt dash
freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup  tomato juice
Dash of Tabasco sauce
Mix lime juice, Worcestershire Sauce, seasoned salt, pepper together until salt is dissolved.
Add the tomato juice and mix.
Add Tabasco.
Pour over ice and garnish with celery stick to stir.

Arrive Alive Sunrise
3/4 cup cranberry juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tbsp. honey (optional)
2 tsp. lemon juice
3 ice cubes
Combine all ingredients in a blender.
Blend until all ice is well crushed.
Garnish and serve at once. 

Fruit Smoothie
1 litre skim milk
2 ripe bananas
1 cup frozen berries (sweetened or unsweetened)
Combine ingredients in blender or food processor and whip until smooth.

See to our beverage suppliers here.  Beverage Services.