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7 June 2010 Throw the perfect World Cup party

Watching the World Cup doesn’t have to go hand in hand with a trip to the pub. It can be more fun to take in the big match at home and let the whole family share in the excitement. It is only every four years after all!

So why not get all your mates and their families round and throw a party? For help planning your bash, here are our top five tips for the perfect party:

1. Have a party to remember

If England scores a famous victory, you’ll want to remember it. So if you choose to drink alcohol, it pays to stay within the recommended guidelines. The guidelines recommend that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily and that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily. A large glass of wine or a pint of strong beer are both three units.

Make room in the fridge for soft drinks too. Water, juices, or even non-alcoholic cocktails all help keep people hydrated on match day. Spacing out alcohol with soft options will make sure your guests stay sharp all the way to the final whistle.

2. Pick a theme

Putting up World Cup-inspired decorations will make it feel like a special occasion. You could even put the kids in charge of making them if you’re feeling brave! England banners and flags all have their place, but try to put up some decorations for England’s opponents too. American flags and other paraphernalia shouldn’t be too difficult to come across for the first match, and you can improvise with coloured streamers for teams like Slovenia and Algeria.

3. Get the kids involved

This may be the first time younger children are able to join in the excitement of an international tournament - so make sure they enjoy it. In the run up to kick off, get them excited with games and other fun. A penalty shoot out competition will go down a treat, as will face painting.

4. Entertain the adults

Get everyone in the party spirit before the match with good music – songs like Three Lions and Vindaloo are always a winner. You could even have a karaoke contest with England songs. Or why not have a competition to guess the score and first scorer, with a prize for the winner? If you are feeling energetic, how about a kickabout in the garden to waste some of those big match nerves.

5. Try South African snacks

If your guests are drinking alcohol, eating a meal before they drink, and plenty of snacks during the match, will keep them sober for longer. You could have a Braai (a traditional South African barbeque) and biltong, a dry, salty meat. Or theme your food according to who England are playing: try burgers for America, dumplings for Slovenia and couscous for Algeria.

Keep track of the units and calories in the alcohol you're drinking over the World Cup by using our drink diary.

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Drinkaware advises men not to regularly drink more than 3–4 units of alcohol a day.