To help make celebrations both enjoyable and safe this holiday season, a number of Canadian liquor boards are offering consumers "HOST: guide for responsible entertaining," a new booklet offering entertaining solutions, useful party planning information and valuable tips for responsible hosting.
The HOST booklet is being launched this week as the cornerstone of a Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions (CALJ) responsible hosting initiative, with seven liquor boards across Canada displaying customized versions of HOST in their stores this holiday season. Those participating include Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Yukon. BC Liquor Stores, Éduc'Alcool in Quebec and the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission have developed similar responsible hosting materials for their customers. "Responsible hosts care about friends, family and guests and want their holiday gatherings to be fun, memorable and safe. With this new CALJ responsible hosting booklet, you can be a gracious host, while ensuring your guests get home safely. A tragic incident is no way to end a festive occasion," says Gerry Glavine, President of the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation and this year's CALJ Chair.
The colourful 52-page booklet is available free-of-charge in participating liquor stores, while quantities last. Produced in response to business and consumer requests for hosting information, HOST contains advice on party planning, how to stock your bar, host liability, facts about alcohol consumption and recipes for appealing, non-alcoholic drinks for guests and designated drivers. Each HOST component has valuable information to help make holiday entertaining easy and reduce the risks of alcohol-related problems.
"This booklet is a great reference tool for every responsible host," adds WJR (Mac) Macdonald, Chair of the PEILCC. "By using the advice and tips found in HOST, you can plan in advance to provide safer celebrations and encourage responsible drinking. The best way to stop drinking and driving incidents is before they happen."
"At this time of year when there are more opportunities to consume alcohol, hosts should help stop drinking and driving any way they can. If you are entertaining, you may be held legally responsible for the safety and sobriety of your guests," advises Jeffrey E. Lantz, Minister Responsible for the Liquor Control Commission. "By following the suggestions in the HOST booklet, you can help prevent impaired driving and reduce the risks to yourself and your guests."