Celebrate New Year’s Eve: Revelry with Responsibility!

For many of us, it’s tough to fathom that tomorrow night at midnight, gigantic red spheres elevated high above will gradually lower, signifying the start of yet another new year.

Wasn’t it merely yesterday when we celebrated the arrival of 2024? At times it feels as if 2024 went by in a flash, while other moments, largely due to the incessant election season, it drags on like molasses.

Nevertheless, for those of us who actually have lives, our attention will currently lie on the New Year’s Eve festivities. With any luck, it will be both enjoyable and secure here in Manistee County, and all those present to bid farewell to 2024 (whether with a full hand wave or a singular finger salute) will still be around to welcome 2025.

In my younger days, Manistee County possessed the ultimate “party ambiance” on New Year’s Eve. Everyone ventured out to usher in the arrival of another year. Back then, we were a “working person’s town,” and it marked the one significant night for both affluent and less fortunate individuals to celebrate.

There remains a considerable amount of partying on New Year’s Eve, but it’s definitely much more subdued than in previous years. It’s crucial to remember that certain safety protocols are still in effect, with the most significant being to refrain from drinking and driving.

You can even take it a step further by stating, “Friends don’t allow friends to drink and drive.” A true friend is likely one who is candid enough to tell someone that they aren’t in a fit state to drive safely.

This concern isn’t solely for the individual wishing to get behind the wheel, but also for other individuals on the roads that evening who might inadvertently become victims.

If you’re heading out with a group, ensure that one person becomes the designated driver to safeguard everyone else in the group. Surprisingly, a designated driver can still have a great time despite not consuming any alcohol. If you’re skeptical, give it a try sometime.

In my youth, we didn’t have the options available today, such as Dial-A-Ride and taxi services, which help ensure people have a safe transportation plan on New Year’s Eve. It’s a great alternative everyone should consider: let someone else handle the driving.

If you opt for one of those alternatives, just ensure you have a strategy to be at your desired location when the clock strikes midnight. Additionally, verify the schedule for the last rides to make sure you have a way home at the end of the evening.

People need to bear in mind that local law enforcement will be present to keep intoxicated drivers off the roads. A celebration can rapidly transform from a night filled with joy to one of humiliation and hefty fines in an instant.

Another aspect to consider is that while the Manistee County Jail is well-managed, it is not a luxury hotel for your enjoyment, and you will become the county’s guest for the evening if caught drinking and driving.

A prevalent misconception is that the sole way to enjoy New Year’s Eve is to be completely inebriated. However, that fleeting moment of pleasure will likely lead to a day filled with discomfort due to a significant hangover on New Year’s Day.

Many individuals forget that there are countless other methods to celebrate smartly on this night. Gather a group of friends, go out for a meal, or simply savor each other’s presence. A modest toast at midnight for the hope of a prosperous year ahead can be quite meaningful.

To some, this may seem rather dull, but on the other hand, you won’t be experiencing the Alka Seltzer saga all of New Year’s Day either.

It’s also essential to ensure that someone who has indulged a bit too much does not wander off into the frigid night. Being intoxicated in the streets during a cold winter night could lead to significant problems if the person faints or struggles to find their way home.

Another safety consideration is that some individuals at private gatherings might think it a good idea to greet the new year with fireworks at midnight. While it’s acceptable, it’s critical to ensure that the one igniting them is in a lucid state of mind to prevent injury to themselves, their friends, or property belonging to neighbors.

New Year’s Eve should forever be a time of celebration, brimming with optimism for the upcoming year being superior to the last. So enjoy, have a great time, and make certain that all of you are back here to see me once more on Thursday.

Ken Grabowski is a retired journalist who devoted more than 36 years to the newspaper industry.