As a hostess, how do I deal with drinking and driving for my guests at my Christmas party? – Nervous hostess

Dear Nervous Hostess,
Good on you for asking the important question! I don’t need to tell readers the importance of this subject. I personally think it is just as delicate a subject no matter who this concerns.  As a butler I have had to deal with this on several occasions.

Firstly, try to be prepared ahead of time. Suggest a designated driver at your event (this person can drive numerous guests home as needed) and/or have some cash on hand to send someone home by taxi if required.

After doing some research, the auto insurance website progressive.com had some great suggestions:

1. If the person is a close friend, try to use a soft, calm approach at first. Suggest that he’s had too much to drink and it would be better to let someone else drive or to take a cab.

2. Be calm.

3. Try to make it sound like you are doing them a favour.

4. If the person is somebody you don’t know well, speak to his friends and have them make an attempt to persuade him to hand over the keys. Usually, he will listen.

5. If the person is a good friend, spouse or significant other, tell him that if he insists on driving, you are not going with him. Tell him that you will call someone else for a ride, take a cab or walk.

6. Locate the person’s keys while he is preoccupied and take them away.

Most likely, he will think he’s lost his keys and will be forced to find another mode of transportation.

If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confrontational.

• Got a question? Send an Email to askcharlesthebutler@metronews.ca