Holiday schedules are often filled by office parties and special holiday celebrations and alcohol often plays a big part. Please take time to consider some ways to keep it safe for everyone.

It's important for everyone in the industry to remember that though the holiday season comes just once a year, we all need happy and healthy customers year round.

By following some of these tips you can help keep your customers happy and safe this holiday season.

• Suggest food. Eating slows down the absorption of alcohol into the body. Also, the time spent eating is time the customer is not drinking. Suggest high-protein foods like nuts, cheese, and meats. Avoid salt foods -- salt makes people thirstier.
  
  
• Suggest nonalcoholic drinks. You can suggest a nonalcoholic drink, such as a soft drink, juice, or coffee when you think a customer has had too much to drink. There are also many nonalcoholic wines and beers available today. Explore new ways of serving non-alcoholic beverages. Items such as cold blended drinks and fruit smoothies have continued to gain popularity because they appeal to all ages.
  
  
• Serve low-alcohol wine or beer. (Don't compromise by serving a customer a watered-down drink. It is illegal to substitute a drink without the customer's knowledge. If a customer is intoxicated, it is illegal to serve him or her any alcohol.*)
  
  
• Avoid serving carbonated alcoholic beverages. If you are serving punch containing alcohol, mix it with a non-carbonated base like a fruit juice; carbonated bases speed up the absorption of alcohol into the blood stream.
  
  
• Offer coffee and tea. Coffee and tea beverages, with or without alcohol, are popular on holiday menus given the colder temperatures of the season. Dress them up with flavors, powders such as vanilla or cinnamon, whipped cream of chocolate whipped cream. For a festive twist, drizzle chocolate sauce over the whipped cream.
  
  
• Reward designated drivers. Offer a gift certificate, free non-alcoholic drinks or other incentives.
  
  
• Offer taxi rides. Have the phone numbers for several local taxi companies on hand so you can call one right away.
  
  
• Slow down service. If a customer is drinking too much, try to casually avoid the customer's table an delay ordering and serving drinks.
  
  
• Stop serving alcohol well before it is time to leave. If hosting a private function, try to stop serving alcoholic beverages one to two hours before the end of the party. Begin serving dessert, coffee or tea.
  
  
• For tips on recognizing and dealing with intoxication, read our Strategies for Dealing with Intoxicated Customers.

* Information provided in part by the Washington State Liquor Control Board. Check for local regulations with your state liquor control board.

(Photo Courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute)

Non-Alcoholic Beverage Recipes

• Amaretto Fudge Cappuccino
• Be My Pineapple Colada
• Berry Blue Smoothie
• Caribbean Cooler
• Chai 
• Cherry Smoothie
• Cherry Fizz
• Christmas Carol Punch
• Citrus Spritzer 'n Spice
• Lemon Berry Slush
• Lemon Mulled Cider
• Merry Berry Punch
• Lemonade and Orange Spritzers
• Peppermint-Chocolate Smoothie
• Pink Smoothie Deluxe
• Raz-A-Ma-Taz
• Sangria Sipper
• Spicy Tomato Cocktail
• Warm Spicy Holiday Punch

Related Articles

• Strategies for Dealing with Intoxicated Customers