Celebrating the New Year is a great and fun way to celebrate everything in your life and starting over in a different year. If you are going to celebrate with friends this year, it is good to keep these tips in mind:
Drinking
- If you are under 21, be careful about drinking. Do not put yourself in a position you are not comfortable with or in an unsafe environment.
- Be mindful of drunk people opening champagne bottles (whether they are alcoholic or not). Some people do not aim the cork away from people. It is all fun and games until someone gets hit in the eye.
- Unless you are with a close group of friends, make sure you pay attention to your drink at all times. Do not sit your drink down, walk away, and end up drinking it later. Hand it off to a friend if you need to use the bathroom.
Driving
- Do not drink and drive. If you have had a couple drinks, have a sober friend drive you or get a cab. Cops will be out in full force and even if you had a couple drinks, you could end up spending New Year’s Day behind bars. Remeber, if you are under 21, one drink can land you in jail for a DUI!
- Just because you are not drunk and driving does not mean that other people will be as careful. Be mindful of other cars on the road to avoid accidents. Have your cell phone charged and have an emergency car kit in your car just in case.
Public Events
- Public New Year’s events can be confusing and disorienting. Stick together with your friends and be wary of your surroundings. Have your cell phone charged and ready to go in case you get lost in the crowd.
- Stay in groups and do not wander out alone.
Fireworks
- Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Police will have a zero tolerance policy for fireworks on New Year’s Eve. You might even end up in jail.
Fights
- Keep your cool in parties and restaurants and stay away from conflict. Just because everyone is drunk and happy does not mean they will stay that way if provoked. Starting off the New Year in fight is not something you want to be a part of.
Pets
- If hosting a New Year’s party, make sure your animals are in a secure room away from the action. Loud noises and drunk people make for paranoid animals, which can lead to them running away or attacking your guests.