Over the years, I've seen fights break out at events, and heard of guests arrested or involved in driving fatalities on the way home from drinking and driving.

If you're hosting a party, you certainly want to be a responsible host. This means paying attention to many details, and insuring that all goes according to your plans.

Here are several suggestions:

Remember how important it is to plan things carefully!

Alcohol, if served, should not be a major focus of the event. Consider a theme party; play non-drinking games.

Make sure that you know the facts about alcohol about drinking and driving about your liabilities as a host if one of your guests gets injured at your party (or after your party) about dealing with drunk individuals. There's lots to know - ask if you don't know!

Keep an eye on your guests - to insure that they're having a good time, and to be sure that no behavior gets out of control.

It you're serving an alcoholic punch, use non-carbonated beverages in it; this helps slow the absorption rate of alcohol.

It you're serving alcohol, be sure to serve attractive non-alcoholic alternative beverages. Non-alcoholic punch recipes are available at any Drug Education Center.

Serve some tasty food - this doesn't have to be expensive! This helps slow the absorption rate of the alcohol.

Respect guests who don't want to drink, or have decided to slow down or stop for the evening.

Measure your drinks - this keeps guests' behavior in line, and limits the amount of your alcohol that is consumed!

Stay sober yourself - you never know when you'll have to be in charge of dealing with an emergency!

Serve an alternative beverage such as coffee an hour or so before the party ends. Realize that this does not help someone sober up, but it does allow for time to pass before they leave.

Take special note of your guests who will be driving home. Make sure that they stay sober enough to drive safely-, encourage them to stop drinking early.

When it's time to leave, be sure that the drivers can drive safely. If not, find someone else to drive, play the game "find the car keys" with them, call a taxi, or find them a place to stay. You certainly don't want to have to wonder whether or not they made it home OK!

If your planning an event during New Years or other major holidays, book a block of rooms. This keeps your guests off the road and out of harm of other impaired drivers.

Added Advice For Planning A Party

In Your Home Setting Provide seats for all, plan enough space or people to move around, and always keep the lights on.

Choose a bartender of known discretion. The eager volunteer may turn out to be a pusher who used the role to give every glass an extra "Shot".

Pace the drinking by serving drinks at regular, reasonable intervals. The length of the interval will depend on whether the guests are enjoying the company or the drinks more. A drink-an-hour means good company prevails.

Don't Double Shots in drinks, count and pace their drinks. If you serve doubles, they will be drinking twice as much as they planned. Doubling up is not hospitality; it's rude and it's dangerous.

Don't push drinks on your guests let the glass be empty before you offer a refill. And then, do not rush, especially if someone comes up empty too fast. When a guest says "no thanks" to an alcoholic drink - "don't insist" - always offer a non-alcoholic drink to replace the drink.

You should push the Snacks at your event. Do this while your guests are drinking, not after. This is important because food slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. It also slows the rate at which people drink.

Serve creative Non-alcoholic drinks. One out of every three adults chooses not to drink at all.

Ask, who is the designated drivers for the evening and consider offering them something special.

Some drinkers, sometimes prefer not to drink as well. Offer a choice of drinks besides alcohol - fruit and vegetable juices, tea, coffee, and soft drinks.

When guests focus on the drinks, the party is slipping. Stir up with an event to energize and re-direct focus.

Share a laugh. Draw out the guest talent. A good host or hostess has more to give than just food and drinks.

If it is a dinner party, serve before it is too late. A cocktail hour is supposed to enhance a fine dinner, not compete with it. After too many drinks, guests may not know what they ate or how it tasted.

Set a drinking limit in advance. When a guest has had too much to drink, you can politely limit them. Express your concern for him or her by offering a substitute drink - coffee, perhaps. This is a gentle way of telling a guest that he has reached the limits you have set for your home.

Closing the Bar Decide in advance when you want your party to end. Then give appropriate cues by word and action that it is time to leave. A considerate way to close the drinking phase is to serve a substantial snack. It also provides some non-drinking time before your guests start to drive home.

Close the bar, one hour prior event ending and I recommend a late night snack table with coffee. This should be used to take focus away from the closed bar.