Tips + Tricks to Help You Celebrate Safely
Whether you have lived in New Brunswick your whole life or you ‘come from away’ and now call New Brunswick your home – one thing is for sure – you know how much we love hosting. It’s in our nature to gather together and celebrate – and we like to celebrate often! From post-game events to backyard BBQs to impromptu kitchen parties and everything else in between.
And knowing how to celebrate safely is key to any successful gathering. So we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you plan and host your celebrations (no matter how big or small) as safely as possible.
As the ‘host with the most’, you can incorporate these tips easily into your party planning and they’ll help to provide a safe event for all your guests - without sacrificing any of the celebratory vibes.
Ready to learn how to be a rockstar host?
Tip 1 – Serve a variety of snacks along with a variety of non-alcohol beverages
Offering food (especially food that is high in protein and starch) will ensure that no one is drinking on an empty stomach.
It's also important to make sure that it’s just as easy for folks to find the sparkling water and mocktails as it is to find the bar. We recommend having lots of non-alcohol options on hand to provide ample variety.
Check out a few of our favourite snack suggestions - along with some alcohol and non-alcohol pairing suggestions below.
A Cheese Tray with Crackers or Breadsticks... Delish!
Alcohol Pairing Option:
- Full-flavoured beer. The stronger the cheese, the stronger the beer.
- If the platter is varied from mild to strong cheese, a honey brown ale would be a balanced option.
Non-Alcohol Pairing Option:
- The Lucky Charmer.
- Plain sparkling water.
Did Someone say charcuterie? Truly something for everyone with this winner!
Alcohol Pairing Option:
- Depending on what is on your charcuterie, you can usually count on it pairing well with red Italian wine, like a Chianti Classico or a Valpolicella.
Non-Alcohol Pairing Option:
- Sparkling water (flavoured or unflavoured) will cut through the fatty meats and cheese.
No party is complete without nachos… spruced up with salsa and dips, of course!
Alcohol Pairing Option:
- Nachos and CORONA EXTRA are a natural fit.
Non-Alcohol Pairing Option:
- CORONA SUNBREW, every bit as good, minus the alcohol!
Tip 2 – Plan for a safe way home
Know who your designated drivers are, call for taxi service, or invite your guests to stay overnight. As the host, you’ll want to keep all your party-goers safe – all night long.
HINT: Show your designated driver some extra appreciation - here are a few ideas of how to say ‘thanks’!
- Fill their gas tank
- Offer to take them to dinner
- Slip them a movie gift card
- Make them a coffee for the drive, in a nice travel mug they get to keep
- Get them an ANBL GIFT CARD and tell them next time, you’ll drive
Tip 3 – No pressure + know your portions
Keep in mind, people are in different places with their choices around alcohol. Don’t encourage guests to drink more than they are comfortable with.
It's equally important to understand proper drink portions – especially if you’re the one standing behind the bar doubling as a mixologist for the evening.
Standard alcohol serving sizes are as follows:
- 341ml (12oz) bottle of 5% alcohol beer, cider, or cooler
- 43ml (1.5oz) shot of 40% hard liquor (vodka, rum, whisky, etc)
- 142ml (5oz) glass of 12% wine
Gathering together with friends and family is part of what makes life in New Brunswick so special – and by incorporating these tips, you can be sure your kitchen parties, events, and backyard BBQs are both fun AND safe.