Partying hard on New Year’s Eve? Heading out for a romantic dinner with your main squeeze? Unless you’re staying firmly on your couch, with champagne and movies as your only entertainment for the night, you’ll benefit from a few New Year’s Eve safety tips.
1. Try to stay off the roads, if possible, even if you’re sober. New Year’s Eve (and even New Year’s Day) are an excuse to imbibe for most people and a lot of accidents happen during those 48 hours. The best way to avoid an accident is to not drive at all.
2. Still have to get on the road? Avoid taking your own car out, especially if you’re extra protective of it. New Year’s Eve is crowded and rowdy, with people getting behind the wheel when they should be calling a designated driver. Keep your vehicle safely at home and check out a few cheap car rentals instead.
3. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a few cocktails on a holiday, but pace yourself and snack often. Make your drinks last, sip on diluted mixed drinks instead of straight alcohol, and alternate adult beverages with water. Not only will you remember what happened on New Year’s Eve, but you won’t have a horrible hangover on New Year’s Day.
4. Throwing a party at home? Your guests will still need to head out at the end of the night. Provide transportation for them so they don’t have to get behind the wheel. With car rental discounts, you can score a great car rental deal and put a friend on designated driver duty to drive guests home when the party’s over.
5. Brew coffee if you need to perk up, but don’t fall for the old “coffee helps you sober up” suggestion. While caffeine is a stimulant and can give you a dose of energy, it doesn’t make the alcohol go through your blood stream any faster. If you’ve had a few drinks, don’t convince yourself that you’re okay to drive because you’ve had a cup of joe.