Americans put a cork in New Year's Eve revelry

USA Today ^ | December 30, 2002 | Craig Wilson

[anncoulteriscool]

Author and all-around social surveyor Dominick Dunne remembers when New Year's Eve meant something special.

It was the '50s, and he was living in Los Angeles. He would go to the New Year's Eve party given by producer and screenwriter Charlie Lederer and his actress wife, Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables fame.

[Billthedrill]

Uh, yeah...nights in jail for driving drunk are more common than they used to be, too.

[anncoulteriscool]

My theory as to why new years eve is no real big deal is...(A) people are afraid of drunk drivers....and (b) people generally make more money than many years ago and so they go out a go to parties and whatnot on almost every weekend (except for me i have a dull life. lol)....especially people to fought WWII came back married their sweetheart and had kids and alot of their money went to their kids so they did not really go on "vacations" (visiting the in-laws does not count) all that much so to go "out on the town" was a real treat.

Personally we used to always bang pots and pans at midnight....it was our family tradition...and we just thot it was so much fun!

[dogbyte12]

Drunk drivers have ruined New Years for me. There is no way I want to be out on the roads. It is not even so much me wanting to drink. I just don't feel safe out there. The last 3 times I went out on New Year's, I saw drunks all over the road. It is amateur night.

Me and the Mrs, will be watching our favorite New Year's movie, "When Harry Met Sally", and drinking some flavored maritinis.

[anncoulteriscool]

My brother in law is a heart surgeon..he is on call tomorrow night for obvious reason...Happy New Years....Besides...save the revelry for the Ohio State buckeyes big victory on friday night! YIPPEE!!!!!

[Bella_Bru]

Ditto on the drunks. I almost always lose the coin toss and am the designated driver. Why can't other people get a clue and get a DD too?

This year, we are staying at home and letting a few friends crash for the night. I won't have to be the DD this New Year's. ;-)

[Sabatier]

It's called babyboomers getting old. When bedtime arrives at 9 who's staying up until midnight just because it's New Year's?

[Billthedrill]

Personally we used to always bang pots and pans at midnight....

Yeah, we did too. Me, I've graduated to a few magazines' worth of automatic weapons fire from my balcony. Them Ay-rabs know how to party all right, you betcha...

[dogbyte12]

Off topic kinda, but what are you all drinking for New Years? We got tired of the champagne thing, so we do something different each year. Tomorrow it is cranberry vodka with apple schnapps martinis, and some straight vodka with godiva chocolate liquor.

[Bella_Bru]

Godiva chocolate liquor is awesome! Especially with some Frangelico. I am very partial to Amaretto sours myself.

I know Alex will probably stick to JD and coke (he's boring like that).

[patton]

My wife & I (15 Years) agreed never to go out on NY when we got married.

In part, because of the drunks.

In part, because we wanted to get drunk.

An in part, because our tradition says that what you are doing at midnight, dictates your year.

Think about it...

[MinuteGal]

New Year's Eve business will even get worse as the icy grip of the Nicofascists takes hold across the country.

Why go to a hotel, bar or restaurant where you can't have a few smokes while you party and ring in the New Year?

People will party in private homes where they won't be raided by the cops for lighting up their gaspers.

Of course, the dim-witted pols like the mayor of Gotham City will never put two and two together on this obvious fact.

Leni

[SuziQ]

Personally we used to always bang pots and pans at midnight....it was our family tradition...and we just thot it was so much fun!

We used to shoot fireworks on New Year's Eve! Mama and Daddy always went to the Annual Knights of Columbus Dinner Dance and we kids just stayed home and watched the ball drop in Times Square on TV.

I think the idea that New Year's Eve was something really special for our parents because they didn't do things like that very often is the right answer. I don't remember my parents going out dancing or to dinner any other time of the year. Every other outing was done with their kids in tow; there were usually at least 5 of the 8 with them at any one time! Even as we kids got older and there were fewer of us at home, the New Year's Eve bash was the only real party they ever attended.

My generation has so many opportunities for parties and gatherings that going out on NYs Eve is less of fun and more of a hassle with traffic, weather, and worrying about the drunks on the road. I've never been partial to gatherings where folks only want to get drunk anyway, they are not very interesting. We had always done takee outee Chinese with the kids until last year. We actually attended a New Year's Eve party with folks from Sir SuziQ's work, who are a lot of fun. The kids were included, though they spent their evening playing video games in the attic playroom. But this year, we're staying home and may just do snacks etc. and watch a movie!

[cibco]

"What are you all drinking for New Years?"

1 oz Gentleman Jack... 1 ice cube... a splash of 7-Up. Sip and repeat when needed :0) HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[dogbyte12]

I bumped up the What are you drinking last year list. It's kinda entertaining, and sad too in a way, that alot of the posters on then are not around anymore.

I plan on drinking 2 glasses of booze a day as my new year's resolution. Good for the heart. Not 1, not 3,4-10... just 2. Life is good.

[cibco]

"sad too in a way, that alot of the posters on then are not around anymore.

I plan on drinking 2 glasses of booze a day as my new year's resolution. Good for the heart. Not 1, not 3,4-10... just 2. Life is good."

Bless your heart... moderation is the key and there is no need to get blitzed.

BTW How large of a glass do you use?

[dogbyte12]

Well... a double gulp cup counts as a glass right?
Nah... I figure I will just use 4 oz wine glasses...

[octobersky]

Off topic kinda, but what are you all drinking for New Years?

MD 20/20 Red Grape Wine. (It was a gift from a frugal relative.) Maybe next year I'll try some of that Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. Sure sounds yummy!

[goodnesswins]

Last time we went out on NY was to stand around under the Space Needle and watch the fireworks.....never again - I'm VERY jumpy because people are shooting off fireworks around you (and I almost lost an eye ONCE already).....anyway, now we are starting a tradition of hosting a S'mores party in our driveway or on our porch from 7pm to 9pm for families on our street. That way people can feel like they've DONE something, get to know their neighbors, walk home, and spend the last 3 hours of the evening doing whatever they want. Heck, they even bring their dogs!

[lmr]

I would like New Year's day to be like every other day of the year. Why? Because our routes at work run a day late the remaining days that week, and my weekend is shortened. Combine that with the fact the same thing happened with Christmas last week, and our routes are heavier, and this is not a fun time of the year at work. I am glad when it is finally over and we can get back to a normal schedule.