As host, it is your charge to help your guests get home safely. While it is common to offer coffee at the end of a party, caffeine is not a sobering agent.
If you live in an area without mass transit, put an index card listing the local cab companies next to the phone, and have cash on hand for the taxis – your guests might not have thought to bring any. Even if you don’t see that money again, the sacrifice is well worth getting them home safely.
Require designated drivers, and thank them for their service. Furthermore, while every bar should have good non-alcoholic options, it’s extra considerate to offer a special non-alcoholic cocktail to your designated drivers. I prefer fizzy drinks because the effervescence adds a certain je ne sais quoi, but of course it’s up to you.
Here are some easy non-alcoholic drink recipes, and here are some higher-end versions. If you want a classic, however, you can’t beat a Shirley Temple:
Serve over ice:
2 parts ginger ale
1 part orange juice
Dash of grenadine or maraschino cherry juice
Garnish with maraschino cherry and citrus slice
