What's Party Smart?
Partying Smart is not an oxymoron. You can have fun, entertain your friends, kick back and relax,
and—yes, even drink alcoholic beverages—without violating the law, annoying your neighbors, destroying property, endangering yourself or others, or getting the police involved.
Party Smart provides you with the necessary information. Party Smart tells you what the laws are; gives you tips on how to be a responsible host or guest; provides Party Smart kits to help you; and links you through this Web site to resources related to safety, entertainment activities and community services.
The Party Smart table of contents follows:
Party Smart Checklist
Party Smart Kit
Party Smart Quiz:
Law & Order
Saturday Knight Live
E.R.
Party Smart Tips
Party Smart Food Ideas and Recipes
Party Smart Safety Concerns
Important Related Links
Checklist for a Successful Party
- Know the law (as it pertains to alcohol and otherwise )
- Know your lease regulations
- Designate a sober host
- Know your guests
- Limit alcohol
- Serve non-alcoholic beverages in addition to those with alcohol
- Provide food
- Use cans or plastic bottles, not glass
- Pick up the trash afterward
- Keep the noise level reasonable
The Party Smart Kit
This kit of materials is available to party hosts at no charge. It contains:
- A Party Smart Planning Guide
- Brochures on alcohol
- Party Smart T-shirt
- 2 Condoms
- Other items as they are available
Party Smart Kits can be picked up at:
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming Office
Counseling Center
Orlando, FL 32816-3330
407.823.0879
Think you know it all? Take our quiz!
It's time to retake the P.S.A.T.
No, not the Pre-SAT; you've proven you're smart enough to get into college.
Take this P arty S mart A ptitude T est to find out if you're smart enough to stay.
At your next court appearance, is the judge more likely to call you "counselor" or "the defendant?"
1. Which of the following are illegal under Florida law?
A. Serving beer to persons under 21 years old.
B. Failing to chill your wine coolers.
C. Walking from party to party with a cup full of beer.
D. Charging admission to a party with "free" alcoholic drinks.
E. All but B.
2. What should you do if police announce an order to disperse?
A. Wait to see if they really mean it.
B. Go onto the porch and watch.
C. Throw bottles, cups or cans.
D. Make tracks out of there or go inside the house and shut the door.
3. Which of the following are considered "public places" under the open container statute?
A. Sidewalks
B. Unfenced yards*
C. That grassy area between the street and sidewalk that no one knows the name of
D. Streets
E. All of the above
4. Who can be arrested if there are underage drinkers at a party?
A. The underage drinkers
B. The host(s)
C. The person taking money at the back door.
D. All of the above.
5. True or False
A. It's illegal to be drunk
B. The open container law applies only to minors.
C. Being drunk while committing a crime makes you less responsible under the law (mitigating factor)
D. Being drunk while committing an offense makes you more responsible under the Code of Student Conduct (aggravating factor).
Answers:
1. A, C, D
2. D
3. E
4. D
5. A: False, B: False, C: False, D: True
Miss more than two?-- Better check out the alcohol and other laws sections of this Web site.
* The law does not clearly define "public place," but in some cases, private yards have been considered public places if anyone could freely walk into them - especially true if you're using "communal" property belonging to tenants of several apartments. If you are serving alcohol, it is absolutely required that you control access. Failure to do so could result in both hosts and guests being busted for open container violations even if everyone is over 21.
1. Which of the following are effective crime deterrents?
A. Locking your doors and windows
B. Superman, Batman and Spiderman
C. Checking to see who's there before you open your door
D. Locking your car.
E. Walking in groups
F. Allowing only invited guests into your party
G. All of the above (except possibly B).
2. Which of the following could have painful results?
A. Standing on a roof
B. Ignoring the load capacity of a balcony
C. Playing with fire.
D. Going home with a stranger
E. Dancing in new shoes
F. All of the above
3. Which are TRUE statements about the Neighborhood Patrol?
A. Includes Orange County and UCF police officers
B. Travels by bike or on foot
C. Prefers preventing trouble to making arrests
D. Will, however, enforce laws as necessary
E. All of the above
Answers
Mom will sigh with relief if you recognized the truth of all of the above
1. G
2. F
3. E
Trust us, this is much better as a TV show than a real-life experience.
1. Which of the following are signs of acute alcohol poisoning?
A. Breathing less than eight times a minute
B. Cold, clammy, blue-toned skin
C. Unconsciousness, semi consciousness (cannot be awakened or stay awake)
D. Vomiting while unconscious
E. Any or all of the above
2. Which of the following are safe to mix with alcohol?
A. Most street drugs
B. Most prescription drugs
C. Most over-the-counter drugs
D. Food
E. Ice
3. Which of these is not a good reason to call 911?
A. Someone has stopped breathing or is breathing with difficulty
B. Someone is unconscious and can't be awakened
C. You need the number of pizza place that delivers
D. Someone has been shot or stabbed
4. Which of these is a TRUE statement?
A. Alcohol prevents frostbite and hypothermia - it's like antifreeze for your body.
B. Alcoholic beverages dehydrate you - cause net loss of water to your system.
C. Drinking milk before going to a party will "coat your stomach" and prevent vomiting.
D. You can see, smell or taste a difference if a "date rape" drug has been put into your drink.
Answers
Give yourself a health merit badge if you answered:
1. E
2. D, E
3. C
4. B
Tips for Party Guests
No. 1: Avoid any party that you haven't specifically been invited to. Even with the best of intentions by hosts and guest alike, an "open house" kegger is a high risk situation. If you decide to ignore this advice, here are some suggestions to reduce the chances you'll be hurt, arrested, or embarrassed.
Protect your health and safety:
- Obey laws.
- If you're over 21 and choose to drink alcoholic beverages, keep your consumption moderate.
- If you're drinking, also eat food.
- Attend with a friend and look out for each other.
- Leave your valuables at home. Carry only the ID and money you'll need that night.
- If you choose to be sexually active, bring and use condoms and other latex barriers.
- Stay off all roofs.
- Avoid crowded balconies.
- Don't play with fire.
- Don't argue with police.
- Remember drugs and alcohol don't mix-even over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be very dangerous when combined with alcohol.
Protect your reputation, be invited back, catch the eye of possible love interest
- Avoid behavior that might get your hosts in big trouble - such as drinking underage, carrying alcoholic drinks onto public property, throwing bottles, etc.
- Treat your hosts, their home and their other guests with respect.
- Clean up after yourself.
- Obey requests from hosts to quiet down, leave, or stop drinking.
- Bring a snack to share. Everyone appreciates an extra bag of chips.
- Mingle, talk to new people-especially that shy one in the corner.
Food Ideas & Recipes
Let's face it, food is probably sort of low on your list of party preparation priorities. But, a responsible host will not allow his or her guests to go hungry or to drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach.
Here are a few suggestions for easy, inexpensive snacks you can serve or ask your guests to bring. Recipes follow for those marked with asterisks.
Sandwiches
- Hot dogs or brats
- Sloppy Joes *
Finger foods
- Toothpick Kebabs *
- Veggie tray (carrots, celery, peppers, cauliflower, etc.)
- Meatballs *
- Cheese & Crackers
Munchies
Drinks
- Assorted soft drinks (24 cans of Coke come with free Party Smart host kit)
- Summer punch *
Recipes
- Assorted cheeses, lunch meats, fruits.
Cut into small bite-size pieces and spear 2 or 3 items on a long toothpick.
- Two 8-oz packages of cream cheese
- 1 medium jar of salsa (hot, medium or mild-your choice)
Let cream cheese come to room temperature. Put in bowl and beat with mixer or spoon until it's fluffy. Stir in salsa. Serve with chips or veggies.
- One 16-oz can of refried beans
- One 16-oz jar of salsa
- Two cups of shredded Cheddar cheese
Put everything in microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave another minute. Stir. Repeat until cheese is melted and dip is hot all the way through. Serve with chips or veggies.
Pepperoni Dip (oven)
- One 8-oz package of cream cheese
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- ¼-cup (approx.) of finely chopped pepperoni
Place all ingredients in casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. Stir. Serve with cut-up bagels or pita bread.
Chili Con Queso (crock pot or microwave)
- One 16-oz package of processed cheese (Velveeta)
- 1 ½ cups thick & chunky salsa (12 oz.)
Cut cheese into cubes (about 1"). Place in crock pot or microwave safe dish. Stir in salsa.
Crock-pot: cook on low for 1 ½ hours with lid on. Remove lid, stir. Cook on high for about one hour with lid off.
Microwave: Cook for one minute on medium. Stir. Repeat until thoroughly melted.
Serve with chips.
Reuben Dip (crock pot or stove-top)
- Three packages of dried beef (Buddig is one brand), chopped into small pieces
- ½ lb (8 oz) Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1 small can sauerkraut, drained of most juice
- 1/3 cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Put everything in crock-pot or saucepan and heat on low until cheese melts and it's hot throughout. Serve with rye bread.
Summer Punch (makes 2 ½ gallons)
- Three 6-oz. cans frozen lemonade concentrate
- Four 6-oz. cans orange juice concentrate
- Four 6-oz. cans limeade concentrate
- 5 cups sugar
- 3 quarts ginger ale
Mix well and add enough water to make 2 ½ gallons. (approx. 5 quarts-use the ginger ale bottles to measure).
- One package pre-cooked frozen meatballs (Italian style)
- 12-oz. jar of chili sauce
- 10-oz jar of grape jelly
Put all into crock pot and cook on low until meatballs are warm all the way through. (If you're thinking ahead, you can thaw the meatballs in their package in the refrigerator the night before, which will reduce crock pot time).
Sloppy Joes (crock pot or stove top)
- Two pounds ground beef
- One onion, chopped
- Two packages sloppy joe seasoning mix
- 1 bottle barbeque sauce (any flavor)
- Optional: any or all of these that you have on hand:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard.
In skillet or saucepan, over medium heat, brown the beef and onion until meat is no longer pink and onion is limp. Drain off fat. If using crock-pot, put beef/onion mix in, along with other ingredients and cook on high for about 3 hours or low for 6-8 hours. If using stove top, add other ingredients to beef/onion mix in pan (after draining off fat) and cook over low heat, stirring frequently until mixture thickens-at least 20 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns.
Safety Concerns
There are risks other than legal consequences to consider when you participate in large, uncontrolled parties.
Theft
Opening your home to uninvited guests is an open invitation to thieves as well. Purse snatchers and pickpockets find drunken persons to be easy targets.
Injury
It's dangerous to be in a mob. You could be trampled, assaulted, burned, or otherwise harmed, by accident or intentionally. Apartment balconies were not designed to hold the numbers of people who frequently crowd onto them. Standing or sitting on rooftops is extremely dangerous, especially when intoxicated.
Sexual assault
Alcohol is involved in many rapes and sexual assaults. It dulls your judgment and lessens your inhibitions. Crowds provide cover and reinforcement for unwanted groping, touching and more serious forms of sexual assault.
Alcohol poisoning
Rapid consumption of large amounts of alcohol (the amount varies by individual) can be life-threatening.
Call 911 when there's:
- Any immediate danger to a person's life
- Any fire situation
- A crime in progress
Prefer the Police didn't Drop by?
Keep the noise down
If neighbors complain or police can hear your party a block away, you're likely to see an officer at your door.
Stay on your own property
Keep your party in your house and/or yard. The sidewalk, the grass between the sidewalk and the street and the street are public property. If your guests are blocking the sidewalk or street or drinking on public property, it's a violation.
Don't invite more people than you can control
Big crowds are very hard to control. Sooner or later, a violation will occur or party crashers will start trouble. Crowded lawns are certain to draw police attention.
Know your guests
Every guest should know a host or be accompanied by someone who knows the host. A lot of trouble is caused by people the hosts don't even know.
Guidelines
Lowest Risk
It's always OK not to drink. If you're driving, pregnant, or have alcohol or other drug dependencies, it's the best choice.
Low Risk
For men, no more than 2 drinks per day.
For women, no more than 1 drink per day.
At Risk
For men, no more than 4 drinks a day or 14 drinks a week.
For women, no more than 3 drinks a day or 7 drinks a week.
"A Drink"
- "A Drink" = 12 ounces of beer, or
- 5 ounces of wine, or
- 1.5 ounces of hard liquor
What are the guidelines based on?
Studies have shown that women or men who drink at the "at risk" level or higher are more likely to experience alcohol-related problems, such as:
- Get nauseous or vomit
- Experience a hangover
- Do something they later regretted
- Experience a memory loss
- Miss a class
- Perform poorly on an important exam or paper
- Get into an argument or fight
- Be hurt or injured
- Be taken advantage of sexually or take advantage of someone else
- Damage property
- Make the choice to drive under the influence
- Get in trouble with the authorities
If one thinks in terms of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), it's really not surprising that women and men who stick to the low-risk drinking guidelines experience fewer negative alcohol-related consequences than their peers who drink more.
• A 120-pound woman who has 4 drinks in the first hour of a party will have a BAC of about 0.15 g/100mL. At this BAC, her inhibition and judgment would be severely impaired. Her motor coordination and reaction time would also be affected. It would be quite easy for her to do something embarrassing or stupid or hurt herself. In contrast, if she had only 1 drink, her BAC would be approximately .05. At this BAC, she would be relaxed and loosened up, but would maintain most of her judgment.
• A 150-pound man who has 5 drinks in the first hour of a party will have a BAC of about 0.125g/100 mL. If he had two drinks during that hour, his BAC would be about .05. In the second scenario, he would still feel good, but could avoid doing anything he regretted.
Who follows the guidelines?
A recent survey found that most UCF students are responsible, low-risk drinkers. The majority of UCF students drink 0-5 drinks per week.
Important Related Links
Click on the below links to go to related site.
Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association
For more information, contact the
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming Office at 407.823.0879.
