Everyone wants to enjoy the Saint Patrick’s Day holiday, whether you are Irish, Catholic, or neither! For a nice dinner with friends, alcoholic beverages may be consumed in moderation well into the night. But don’t put yourself or others at risk by overconsumption. You can celebrate the holiday or any outing with friends by choosing to drink responsibly, knowing your limits, and overall having an enjoyable dining experience.
The term drinking responsibly means understanding how alcohol affects your body and overall tolerance and then using that knowledge to moderate your intake.
Picture a busy night at a drinking establishment where the workers perform multiple duties to serve their customers and earn their tips. On any given night, you will see workers taking orders, handling the cash register or credit card machine, and pouring and mixing drinks.
In addition, they must also engage in responsible beverage service. Bartenders and servers must monitor their patron’s alcohol consumption and be alert for any signs of intoxication and behaviors where they have to discontinue service. If you are visibly intoxicated, understand that a business has a right to refuse service. Serving such customers is illegal, regardless of whether or not they have a designated driver. To do so would be a violation of state laws, punishable by fines, penalties, or even jail time, depending upon the state. Servers and other personnel will closely monitor the situation.
Businesses selling alcoholic liquor to the public have an obligation to operate a safe business, and such businesses are the first line of defense in the deterrence of violent acts.
Everyone wants to prevent alcohol-related mishaps. Do not put a bartender in an awkward or dangerous situation by careless behavior and overconsumption.
Do your part!
Accept the care of food or water offered to help keep sober. Be grateful for the high degree of caution and concern for the safety of others around you. If your designated driver is absent to care for your party, have a plan B for transportation.
We are lucky to live in a world where a ride is only a tap of your finger away.
Transportation available in Quincy:
Quincy Community Cab Co. / 217-577-1355
Quincy Transit Lines / 2020 Jennifer Road / 217-228-4550
Rideshare: lyft.com / uber.com
Submitted by Jessica Speckhart
