The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) is offering its customers advice this holiday season for celebrations that will be memorable for all the right reasons.
“In addition to providing a positive shopping experience and helping customers with product selection and food matches, LCBO store employees can offer party planning tools and recommend attractive gift solutions,” said LCBO President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Peter. “We encourage everyone serving alcohol at their holiday gatherings to use our responsible hosting tips to help ensure guests get home safely.”
While the full list is available online at www.lcbo.com/sr, here are some of LCBO’s responsible hosting tips:
– Plan ahead to prevent guests from drinking and driving. Do that by discussing designated drivers beforehand, keeping cash and taxi numbers on hand, and preparing for overnight guests. Hosts should also be prepared to take away car keys.
– If hosting, drink moderately – or not at all – in order to act quickly and avoid problems.
– All guests – not just designated drivers – should be offered an assortment of alcohol-free drinks. The LCBO has many mocktail recipes at www.lcbo.com/sr.
– Guests drink more when the bar is open, so either hire a bartender or be the bartender. And remember, measurement is a must.
– Serve high-starch, high-protein foods to help ensure no one drinks on an empty stomach.
If Mother Nature is on your gift list this year, LCBO can help you host a “green” party with a range of organic and earth-friendly products in lightweight containers, as well as reusable shopping bags – which make a unique and useful stocking-stuffer.
Do not forget to bring reusable bags when shopping at LCBO, and following holiday celebrations, take empty beverage alcohol containers to The Beer Store for a full deposit refund.
In the spirit of giving this holiday season, LCBO encourages customers to consider making a donation to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) Canada and the province’s four regional children’s hospitals during December, either using the donation box in stores or when paying by debit or credit card.
Last December, LCBO customers donated $337,000 to those causes.
“Consumers today expect a high standard of corporate social responsibility and a true commitment to the environment from the companies they do business with.
“At LCBO, we have a long tradition of being a responsible retailer, and our employees are eager to partner with our customers to make a positive difference,” said Peter.
