The holiday season is a time for gatherings and celebrations – and for many, enjoying festive drinks. While alcohol can be part of the fun, it also brings certain risks if not handled carefully, especially around children and guests. In this blog, we’ll explore important safety measures to take when serving and drinking alcohol at gatherings.
Clearly Label Alcohol-Containing Drinks
Whether you’re hosting or attending a gathering where alcohol is served, it’s important to clearly label beverages that contain alcohol.
- Alcohol-containing drinks can sometimes look like non-alcohol-containing drinks, which can be confusing for both children and adults. Labeling alcoholic drinks can prevent drinking alcohol by mistake, which is especially dangerous for children.
- If you are making your own alcohol-containing beverages, clearly label that it contains alcohol, as well as the serving size, to help everyone make informed choices and reduce the risk of overdrinking.
- If you are serving store-bought drinks containing alcohol, make sure they are clearly labeled as such, since many alcohol-containing drinks look like common non-alcohol-containing drinks like juices, lemonade, and sparkling water.
- Alcohol is commonly avoided by adults whose medicines negatively interact with it. Find more information about mixing medicines with alcohol in our previously published blog.
By taking a few simple steps to identify alcohol-containing beverages, you can help ensure a safer environment for all guests.
Keep Cups Up High
If children are attending your gathering, it’s important to keep alcohol-containing beverages out of reach. Place drinks on high surfaces or in areas where children cannot easily grab them. Avoid leaving cups unattended on tables or counters.
Children are naturally curious and even a small amount of alcohol can be harmful. They may experience low blood sugar after ingesting it. If their blood sugar gets too low, there is a potential for seizures and coma. Effects related to low blood sugar can last for up to 24 hours – but it is important that you call the Maryland Poison Center before symptoms start.
By keeping drinks up, away, and out of sight, you reduce the risk of children accidentally drinking alcohol.
Make Sure Children Have Their Own Beverages
One way to help prevent children from accidentally drinking alcohol is to provide them with their own drinks. Offering water, juice, or other child-friendly beverages and making sure these drinks look clearly different from adult beverages can help reduce curiosity and the temptation to reach for adult drinks. You can also keep adult and children’s drinks separate by using different coolers, decorating the non-alcohol cooler with kid-friendly designs so it’s easy for children to spot. When children have a drink that’s just for them, it helps them feel included in the celebration while keeping them safe.
Have a conversation with the older children about adult beverages, making sure they understand that the alcohol-containing beverages are for adults only and not for them. You can also encourage them to help keep an eye on the younger children to make sure they don’t drink any of the adult beverages.
Clean Up Before Bed
As the celebrations wind down, make sure to clean up any remaining alcohol-containing beverages and cups. Children often wake up earlier than adults and might drink alcohol-containing drinks left out from the night before if no one is supervising. Quickly removing or storing alcohol up, away, and out of sight reduces this risk.
Know Signs/Symptoms of Too Much Alcohol
Even with precautions, consuming too much alcohol is common. Recognizing signs of overconsumption is important to help keep yourself and others safe. Awareness can prevent serious health complications and allow for prompt action if needed.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Breathing is noisy, slow, shallow, or has stopped.
- Skin is blue, cold, or clammy. If a person has darker skin, check for pale lips or nail beds.
- Low body temperature
- Difficulty staying conscious or awake
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone else, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. The Maryland Poison Center is available 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222 to answer any questions and advise you if an exposure has happened. Call 911 if you or someone else is experiencing life-threatening symptoms.
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