We all indulge during the festive season, but the need to stay Safe and Sound is also important. Did you know that:
- Australians’ weekly average alcohol intake triples during the festive season
- One third of Australians consume more than 10 standard drinks a week during the festive season
- Nearly one half of Australians aged 20 to 29 admitted to binge drinking during the festive season
Being aware that your brand is impacted by behaviour at social functions just allows us to take simple precautions. Here’s a selection of the advice issued by corporates to their employees. I think much of it makes sense, even for a small business owner to adopt.
Advice for Sensible Drinking over Christmas and New Year:
- Drink slowly. Make sure you’re chatting more than you’re drinking
- Drink non-alcoholic spacers between alcoholic drinks, such as water, juice or soft drinks
- Choose low-alcohol varieties, such as low or mid-strength beer
- Be aware of the size of each drink – your glass of wine may actually contain two standard drinks
- EAT! High protein foods (such as nuts) eaten before and during alcohol consumption can help slow the release of alcohol
- Avoid shouts or rounds that encourage drinking quickly and in large volumes
- Finish your drink before letting someone top it up – this way you can keep track of what you’re drinking
End of Year Client Functions:
- These are still work events and the same policies and expectations apply – just like any other work meeting
- What you might think is a harmless joke, comment or gesture could be harassment if it offends someone else
- Plan ahead when celebrating. Don’t drink and drive. Leave your car at home and plan to use public transport
- Keep in mind that people have different cultural and religious beliefs around this time of year
- Look out for one another. If you see someone in a dangerous situation – be it personal safety or reputational, speak up and do what you can to get them into a safer situation. This includes leaving the function with them and ensuring they get home.
- If you are a team or business leader, you have a responsibility to ensure that your team get home safely
Social Media:
- Without written permission of your host or your company, you should not post details (including photos) of, during or after the function. Use of brands/names are subject to copyright laws.
- Even with the permission of the companies involved – it is considered common courtesy to ask your companions their permission before you publish their names or tag them in photos
- You may consider changing personal settings on social media, so that you can check who’s writing about you or publishing a photo of you. Perhaps even upgrade your privacy settings so that you authorise anything that includes you prior publishing.
- Do not publish anything that involves people who were not part of your immediate party, circle or are total strangers to you irrespective of the situation in question. Remember to treat (or tweet) others as you’d expect to be treated (or tweeted).
So now more than ever, Santa really will know if you’ve been good or bad! Note: Statistics were sourced from a survey conducted by Febfast in 2009. 1066 Australians from all states were surveyed. www.febfast.com.au
