If you’re looking to chug mugs of green beer this weekend — rather than risk being hung over in mid-week, when St. Patrick’s Day actually comes around — here’s what you need to know about playing it safe in Ottawa.
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1) Find a safe ride home.
Take advantage of some of the special safety services offered during the St. Patrick’s Day frenzy.
The Heart & Crown, which has five Irish-themed pubs across the city and are notorious (in a good way) for their St. Paddy’s parties, are giving out $10 taxi vouchers to the first 50 people to walk into each pub’s location. They’re valid for Blueline Taxi, West-Way Taxi and Capital Taxi.
“It’s helping to promote a responsible St. Patrick’s Day,” said Jamie Lennox, the general manager at the Preston Street location. “It’s also an incentive to come in a bit early – not that it’s an issue for St. Paddy’s.”
There is also a free app (“Arrive Alive”) for androids and iPhones offered by the arrive alive DRIVE SOBER campaign that works to find you a ride if you have no other choice.
“Plan before you go,” said the executive director of the campaign, Anne Leonard. “The consequences are dire if you don’t.”
2) Drink lots of water, and eat, along with your beer.
According to officials from Ottawa Public Health and the Safer Ottawa Drinking Alliance (SODA), people need to set limits and stick to them.
The Drinking Guidelines provided by the SODA website states, “for every drink of alcohol, have one non-alcoholic drink … and eat before and while you are drinking.”
3) Stay with the friends you trust.
A fall 2014 study conducted by The Ottawa Hospital Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program (SAPACP), found that 25 per cent of the sexual assault cases reported occurred at festivals, parties and other group events – also known as mass gatherings. It also found that 90 per cent of victims consumed alcohol at these gatherings.
“With St. Patrick’s Day celebrations just around the corner, we want to encourage everyone in the community to play a role in preventing violence against women and to be aware of risk factors associated with consuming alcohol at mass gatherings,” said Supt. Joan McKenna from Ottawa Police Services.
4) Check out some alternative events.
If drinking is not your thing, here are a couple other Irish events taking place in the city’s Capital:
- The Ottawa Rose of Tralee is an event that chooses a “Rose,” a woman who is 18-27 with an Irish background, to represent Ottawa in the International Rose of Tralee Festival in Ireland. The selection ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 15 at the Rose of Tralee Ottawa Centre at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 and cocktail attire is encouraged.
- The St. Patrick’s Day mass is happening on March 17 at St. Patrick’s Basilica located at 281 Nepean St. at 7 a.m., 8 a.m, 12:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
And if you want to get some more culture from Ireland, check out some other Irish societies in Ottawa:
- Gaelic Hour
- Ireland Fund of Canada
- Irish Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Ottawa
- National Irish Canadian Cultural Centre /
Saint Brigid’s Centre for the Arts - Ottawa Gaels Gaelic Football Club
- Ottawa Irish Rugby Club
- Ottawa Hurling Club
- Rose of Tralee – Ottawa
- St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa
- Tara Players Theatre of Ottawa
Sláinte!
