While New Year’s is the most exciting night of the year for many of us, it is also a night of high restaurant bills, over-consumption of alcohol, and drunk driving tickets. Not to mention all the carbon we put out zipping around in taxis and making other people cook dinner for us on a night when really, they should be out celebrating too.

Have a Plan
If you are going into a city to party, book a hotel room and park your car at the hotel. Try to get one close enough to your party spot that you can walk. Don’t commute into the city to party and then drive home. Many hotels have special New Year’s packages that include a gloriously late check-out time on the 1st; just ask around.

Host a Party
If you want to host a party, have spare sleeping bags on hand for your more drunk friends to crash at your pad. Ask everyone who comes to be prepared to stay the night if they plan on drinking. Try not to drink too much yourself so that you can gauge everyone’s level of inebriation when they leave.

Avoid the Favours
New Year’s hats and noisemakers are fun, but add to landfills every year. Go to a dollar store and buy harmonicas, recorders and other musical instruments to achieve the same effect. Store them with your Christmas decorations so that you know where they are when next year comes around.

Don’t Drink Stupid
Use common sense while drinking. Don’t mix different alcoholic beverages, and try to stick to the softer stuff like beer and wine. If you really want to go green, buy a supply of organic wine or beer for the evening and your guests.

Have Non-Alcoholic Drinks Available
Have cold water and soft drinks on hand should anyone want to “slow it down”, and make them as readily available as the booze.

Plan a Family New Year’s
Kids love watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Make fun snacks for your kids, and share some wine with your friends and family. If kids are present, though, keep the alcohol low key.

Make Green New Year’s Resolutions
Fill a hat with easy-to-do green resolutions, like “change all your lights to low-watt bulbs” or “switch to an organic cleaner for your bathroom”. Ask everyone to draw one resolution. Even if one person follows their resolution, you’ve just helped to make the world a greener place.