Skip to main content

Parents: Don’t be a party to underage drinking this prom and graduation season

by Joy Spencer



Remember your prom experience? How about when you graduated from high school? While some things have changed, other pressures are exactly the same. 

Prom and graduation should be celebrated as alcohol and substance-free events. Unfortunately, statistics show that one third of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving teens each year occur during April, May, and June -- prom-graduation season. 

Parents can play a vital role in helping teens make good decisions about alcohol - which is great news. Research shows that regular communication between parents and their kids has a positive influence on the decisions that teens make.

What else can parents do?

  • Discuss rules for the celebrating: your own rules, the school rules, and the consequences for violating the rules.
  • Ask your teen for a complete itinerary for the evening, including where they'll be going before, during and after prom. If you have graduates, make sure you know where and when they will be celebrating.
  • Take inventory of the alcohol in your home and secure it, if needed. In a survey by the American Medical Association, two out of three teens aged 13-18 said that it is easy to get alcohol from their homes without parents knowing about it. One-third responded that it is easy to obtain alcohol from their own parents knowingly, which increases to 40 percent when it is from a friend's parent. And one in four teens have attended a party where minors were drinking in front of parents. 
  • If you are hosting a post-prom or grad party, remember it is illegal to serve alcohol to minors. Some parents feel that hosting a house party where alcohol is served to minors is safer because they can control it. Allowing these parties is illegal, even with other parents’ consent. Hosts may be held responsible for consequences that result. Injuries and car accidents after such parent-hosted parties remind us that no parent can completely control the actions of intoxicated youth, during or after a party. And the main message children hear is that drinking illegally is okay. 
  • If your teen is riding in a limo, check the company’s policy on allowing alcohol in the vehicle. 
  • Do not rent hotel rooms or vacation rental properties for your teens.
  • Communicate with other parents about prom-graduation plans. 
  • Reinforce that they should get help if a friend is in trouble. Be available to provide a timely and safe ride home if needed. Let them know that they should call you if they need a ride home or get into a situation they know isn’t safe -- no matter what time it is, no matter where they are. 
  • Remind your teen that everyone has a camera these days. With security cameras, phone cameras and video cams everywhere, it is important your child realizes that they shouldn't do anything that might cause them embarrassment by ending up Facebook or YouTube. Unfortunately, what ends up on the internet and social media, stays on the internet and can be shared with hundreds of people very quickly. Not to mention their future plans for college could be jeopardized. A college acceptance can be revoked for illegal behavior and for getting expelled from high school. 

With good communication, firm expectations, clear ground rules, a little planning -- and lots of cooperation, parents and teens can both have a fun, memorable, and safe prom and graduation season. 
Here's to helping your teens create wonderful memories.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can I see your ID, please?

From time to time, we receive questions on whether the OLCC requires anyone buying or being served alcohol to have a valid ID on them. The OLCC requires licensees to check ID of anyone who reasonably appears 26 years old or younger. An establishment might have a restriction on their liquor license due to a history of serving alcohol to minors or allowing minors in prohibited areas. In this case, it could be that a licensed business is required to check the ID of every person entering the establishment or being sold/served alcoholic beverages. Or, a business can choose to have a stricter ID policy than what the state requires. If you’re at a restaurant with your underage friend or relative, you might not be served - even if you have the ID to show you’re of age. Some businesses will refuse service if they suspect that you might furnish the alcoholic beverage to a minor at your table. Current accepted forms of ID include a valid state driver license with a photo; a valid DMV ID card wit...
109 comments
Read more

Who has the lowest liquor prices?

by Christie Scott You may have heard some say that liquor is cheaper in California. The facts are that only a handful of products are significantly lower, while most products are very competitive. In fact, after you’ve added in the California sales tax, many popular products in Oregon are actually less expensive. Many retail stores in states like California use a sales tactic called “loss leaders.” This is the practice of drastically marking down a few popular, fast-moving products to entice customers into coming into the store and purchasing other products. But then other products are likely marked higher to make up the cost difference. The OLCC does not use these techniques to entice people into liquor stores. For public safety reasons, the state does not try to encourage alcohol sales or try to entice people into the stores. The most common size bottle sold in Oregon is 750 ml also known as "fifths." Most people who purchase alcohol purchase this size - a...
24 comments
Read more

OLCC Bend office to hold open forum town hall meeting

Bend area liquor licensees are invited to participate in an open forum to share their ideas, questions, concerns, and insights with the OLCC. Monday, June 8 @ 2:00 p.m. ODOT offices, 63055 N. Highway 97, Bend, Oregon RSVP: Bend OLCC office @ 541-388-6292 x221 “The OLCC takes pride in its commitment to communicate with all licensees and takeholders. Our overarching goal is to have licensed businesses that are safe for employees, customers, and neighbors,” said Jason Evers, Bend Regional Manager. “We’re looking forward to our town hall meeting and to hearing what’s on our licensees’ minds.” One-on-one meetings can also be arranged with Evers for those unable to attend.
1 comment
Read more