Let’s ease up on the drink this summer

16 January 2012

Let’s ease up on the drink this summer

Upper Hutt City Council is encouraging the community to be safe this summer and drink sensibly.

Upper Hutt City Council is encouraging people to plan their parties or celebrations these holidays to make sure no one drinks too much and gets hurt.

“There’s a lot of socialising at this time of the year and a bit of planning goes a long way to make sure everyone has a good time and no one ends up drunk and experiencing alcohol-related harm,” says Upper Hutt City Council’s Community Development Adviser, Jessica Setu.

“There’s a few simple things we can all do – like making sure there’s food, having low alcohol and no-alcohol options and having something fun to do so it’s not all about drinking,” says Ms Setu.

According to Upper Hutt City Council, people hosting social occasions can help their guests ease up on the drink by:

• Food – providing guests with substantial food early on and throughout the gathering. Asking people to bring a plate is a great way to get everyone involved.

• Drink options – having a range of interesting no-alcohol options. There are some great ‘mocktail’ recipes out there that can be really refreshing and also look really festive. This way, people have a choice about what they drink.

• Having fun – planning something fun so everyone has an excellent time and it’s not centered on alcohol. It doesn’t have to cost money – get out the old sports gear or party games and encourage everyone to have a go.

“If we think about what this time of year is meant to be about and plan for it to be fun, we’ll also be looking out for each other and helping the people we care about ease up on the drink. And that’s got to be good for everyone,” says Ms Setu.

The council is offering free Host Responsibility packs which are available to anyone in the community. To request a pack, please call Community Services on 527 2793.

About Upper Hutt City Council

Upper Hutt City Council is the steward and custodian of Upper Hutt City, providing governance, infrastructure, and community services and resources, and promoting opportunity in the city for business, recreation, lifestyle, and leisure. Upper Hutt City is located 30 km north-east of Wellington City (41°07'34" S, 175°04'06" E) and boasts 70% of the region’s parks and reserves, along with state-of-the-art entertainment and leisure facilities.

For more information on Upper Hutt City and the City Council, go to www.upperhuttcity.com

ENDS