Christmas Parties And Drunk Driving

Every year employees across Calgary wind down the work year with a company Christmas party. The event is looked at as a time for fun, entertainment, and a token embarrassing moment to be talked about around the water cooler in the new year. However, there are more serious concerns that come with organizing your company’s Christmas party. In Alberta’s courts, an employer hosting a company event, where alcohol is served, is considered to hold responsibilities and liabilities similar to a commercial social host such as a restaurant or bar. That simply means that if a guest leaving your corporate event, after drinking, has been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident your company may hold an associated fault. For employees, being in a motor vehicle accident that involves alcohol, or being stopped at a police checkstop, can result criminal charges that include jail time, significant fines, and the loss of your driving license. The safety of your employees and their guests is paramount. The following are a few tips and guidelines for keeping your event safe for staff this holiday season.

Tips For A Safe Corporate Christmas Party

• Provide non-alcoholic drink options.
• Provide food to balance alcohol consumption.
• Use certified bartenders who are independently insured.
• Provide a taxi chit service at the company’s expense for event transport.
• Invitations should clearly state that employees should use taxis if they will be drinking at the party.
• Invitations should clearly state that employee attendance is not mandatory.
• Invite spouses or partners, as guest conduct tends to behave better in the presence of a ‘better half’
• Limit the amount of alcohol that is available.
• Distribute drink tickets to control the number of drinks per person.
• Look into holding the party at a hotel or conference facility so guests can stay the night.
• Appoint managers to casually monitor guests’ alcohol intake and arrange for taxis for staff who appear intoxicatedf.
• Stop serving alcohol 1 hour before closing the party.

Avoid Being Charged With Drunk Driving This Holiday Season

With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, things can get a little out of hand. Especially when you are Christmas party hoping and sharing ‘Christmas cheer’ with co-workers, friends, and family. However, the Calgary police and RCMP are on high alert for identifying impaired drivers on our roadways during this time of year. A DUI can have a massive impart on your family, community relationships, your job, and ability to travel abroad. If you have been charged with a drunk driving in Alberta, contact our DUI lawyers in Calgary. Our criminal lawyers will defend your rights while working to have your charges dropped or reduced. Call us our drunk driving lawyers in Calgary today and don’t waste time in defending your future.

Posted on December 10th, 2013