Make safety part of the setup before guests arrive. Think through what is on the drinks table, which party items contain batteries, and how the evening will end. The sections below explain U.S. standard drinks, alcohol guidance, and button or coin battery requirements. The hosting suggestions turn those topics into a manageable plan without asking guests to disclose personal information.
Know What "One Drink" Means
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's standard-drink guide, updated in December 2025, says one U.S. standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. Its examples are 12 ounces of beer at 5% alcohol by volume, 5 ounces of wine at 12%, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits at 40%. The serving size and alcohol percentage belong together when reading those examples.
The guide also explains that a 12-ounce beer at 10% alcohol by volume contains two standard drinks. A single bottle therefore does not necessarily equal a single standard drink. This is a measure of alcohol content, not a suggested serving or a safe allowance.
For your setup, keep information about alcohol-containing beverages available rather than relying on the appearance of the glass. Offer a clearly identified alcohol-free table from the start. Nobody needs to drink alcohol to participate in a game or enjoy the gathering.
Who Should Skip Alcohol Entirely
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 advise consuming less alcohol. They say people who should completely avoid it include pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder or unable to control how much they drink, and people taking medications or with medical conditions that can interact with alcohol.
A host does not need to find out which category applies to a guest. Accept a request for an alcohol-free drink without questions, and avoid making a refusal a topic for the table. Build that expectation into the evening: guests choose their drink, and the games continue without any connection between drinking and winning, losing, or taking a turn.
Mocktails as the Default
Put alcohol-free choices where guests can see and reach them as soon as they arrive. Give them the same care as the rest of the party table: readable labels, glasses ready to use, and room to set a drink down between games. Make water easy to find, too. Our party bar guide has mocktail ideas to help plan that part of the gathering.
Keep the choices clear when serving. Use separate, clearly labeled containers for alcohol-free drinks, and ask before adding anything to a guest's glass. If someone is helping serve, explain the arrangement before the party begins. Do not ask guests to justify their choices or repeatedly offer alcohol after they decline.
Keep game instructions separate from the drinks station. Choose a round where everyone can take part with whatever drink they prefer, including no drink at all. A toast, a prize, or a team celebration can remain alcohol-free.
Little Guests and Coin Batteries
The Safety Standard in 16 CFR Part 1263, required by Reese's Law, establishes performance and labeling requirements for consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries. Its stated purpose includes preventing child access during reasonably foreseeable use and misuse, and eliminating or adequately reducing ingestion risks to children 6 years old and younger.
The rule requires covered consumer products to comply with ANSI/UL 4200A, the standard for products incorporating button or coin batteries. It also establishes warnings for products, their packaging, accompanying instructions and manuals, and battery packaging. Battery packages manufactured or imported after September 21, 2024, must meet the specified battery-package labeling requirements.
The rule's definition covers products containing or designed to use these batteries, whether batteries are replaceable, included, or sold separately. When reviewing party favors and decorations, read the product information and accompanying warnings. Include those items in your preparation rather than looking only at the game supplies. These points concern product requirements; they are not a first-aid guide.
Getting Everyone Home Safely
Decide how departures will work before the evening gets busy. Invite guests to arrange their journey in advance, leave space for anyone waiting for a ride, and make the end of the gathering easy to recognize. If someone needs to change their plan, help them arrange transport rather than letting a final game delay the decision.
Do not use a count of standard drinks, the size of a glass, or participation in a game to decide that someone is ready to drive. The alcohol-content examples above are not a driving test. Keep the departure plan separate from the score or the mood of the room. A calm finish belongs in the hosting plan just as much as a welcoming start.