Things to think about if you're having a party at your place

Having a party at your place can be a lot of fun. However, if you are hosting a party there are a number of things you might want to think about beforehand, including:

• Preventing gatecrashers from attending - it is a good idea to make sure that side and back entrances are secure and to have someone at the door.
• Keeping neighbours happy - it's a good idea to let your neighbours know about the party either in person or by dropping them a note.
• Work out the house rules for the party - this should include whether or not alcohol will be served or allowed at the party. If you are serving alcohol, make sure you have lots of food and non-alcoholic alternatives. It's also a good idea to make sure you have someone to serve the alcohol. That way they can keep an eye on how much alcohol is consumed.
• Have a plan for what to do if a guest gets sick or drunk - If a guest passes out or needs help, it is important that you call 000 for an ambulance immediately.
• Plan for how to end the party and get people to leave - it's a good idea to stop serving alcohol around an hour before the end of the party to start to wind things up. You may also want to turn down the music a bit, serve some sweet snacks and hot drinks.
• Make sure party guests get home safely or have them sleep over - this is especially important if you suspect guests have been drinking and plan to drive home. It may be a good idea to let people know about public transport options on the party invitation, encourage them to be picked up or have a designated driver, or else call a taxi for them.