Tips for throwing a safe football party

Overview: When it comes time for the big game both the hosts and the guests have a role to play in having safe fun and minimizing the risk of drinking and driving. As the host, providing food, keeping pets away, having proper seating, preparing your space and being mindful of guests’ behavior is important. As a guest, practicing safe driving habits such as eliminating distractions and staying sober to and from the party are also critical.

Big games and playoffs are more fun when friends get together to watch them. Planning ahead is good defense. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — NHTSA, in 2023 about 34 people died every day in drunk-driving car accidents. That’s 1 person every 42 minutes for a total of 12,429 people. Drunk driving accidents don’t merely impact the driver. Passengers, other cars on the road and pedestrians are at risk of injury or death from alcohol-impaired driving accidents.

Considering these tips can help hosts and their guests keep the party, and the ride home, safer when the big game takes place this February.

Home team

When it’s gametime, consider inviting your crew to enjoy the big game from the comfort and safety of your home. When hosting a party, you are the referee so keep the game in check by preparing the "field" inside and setting your party up for success.

Provide food

Offer a variety of foods and remember shareables are great for watching the game. Consider including football favorites like chili, chips and dip, guacamole, hamburger sliders, nachos and chicken wings. Be mindful of guests with allergies and label food that may contain common allergens so that guests are aware. If you’re on a budget, consider a potluck party. Don’t leave food like chicken, eggs or cheese out too long and risk illness.

Additionally, according to Johns Hopkins, eating before drinking helps manage the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. This may help your guests both enjoy the party and return home safely.

Mind your pets

Consider keeping your pets contained in a separate room or kennel. This keeps your pets safe and may make your guests more comfortable.

Set up your seating

Ensure you have enough seating to accommodate your guests. Couches, chairs, floor cushions and bean bags are all good options. Keep seating open to allow people to come and go as they please. If your space does not have a large watching area, consider having two spaces to watch the game.

Monitor the kitchen

The kitchen is where everyone huddles, and distractions can cause you to take your eyes off the ball. There's no break if you're the one frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food as the leading cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking. Washing your hands when preparing and handling food can also help prevent the spread of germs.

Make the hard calls for safety

Throw out the yellow flag if someone has been drinking and tries to leave with keys in their hands — that's a party foul. Suggest your guests have a plan to get home safely, such as a rideshare, having another sober guest drive them home or have them stay the night. Do your part as a host to keep drunk drivers off the roads.

Provide a variety of beverage options

Give the designated drivers the best seat in the house and confirm there are plenty of alcohol-free choices such as water, sodas, juice, sparkling water or mocktails. Alternative options may help remove extra temptations.

Limit drinking later in the game

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, or maybe even sooner, consider replacing alcohol with coffee, water and desserts, just like they do at the stadium. This may help increase the potential that people are heading home safely.

Prepare the "field" outside

Home field advantage means you need be ready for your fans. Block slips and falls, and tackle winter hazards like snow-covered, icy driveways, walkways and stairs to help prevent delay of game and penalties.

Consider your insurance coverage. Even a quiet gathering can sometimes lead to an accident, such as a guest injury or property damage. Contact a State Farm® agent to ensure your coverage meets your needs.

Visiting team

Facing a drive to the party or the game? Remember the safe travel plays.

• Eliminate distractions. Keep both eyes on the road and two hands on the wheel.
• Drive within speed limits and practice defensive driving.
• Buckle up, every trip, every time.
• Stay sober and alert behind the wheel.
• Plan ahead — anyone drinking should not be driving. Use alternative modes like ridesharing to get there safely.
• Be prepared for unexpected field conditions. Remove junk from your vehicle trunk and add a car emergency kit and a road safety kit, including items like a shovel, snow brush, ice scraper, flashlights, jumper cables, sand or kitty litter, warning devices (flares/triangles) and blankets, water, non-perishable food and any necessary medicines.
• Check game-time weather. As temperatures fall, tire pressure can too. Check that your tires are ready for the drive down the field.

Now that you have learned some tips to safely celebrate the big football game, you may be interested to see some State Farm commercials available for football season.