Graduation Party Alert - Parents Who Host Lose the Most.
Sheriff’s Office Warns About Underage Drinking and Parental Liability
High school graduation should be a happy time to celebrate the accomplishments of students. Unfortunately it can become a time when normally rational parents and teenagers make unsafe choices. The Wayne County Sheriff’s office wants to remind families that underage drinking and the consequences associated with teen drinking can have dangerous and lasting consequence.
Although drinking and driving is the most well-known consequence of teen drinking, alcohol is also a major factor in sexual assault, violence, property damage and injury accidents. Sadly, many high-school drinkers get their alcohol from an adult and sometimes those adults are parents or other family members.
Sheriff Travis Hutchinson says, “To keep teenagers safe, parents, schools and law enforcement must work together to change the view that reckless teen partying is normal and okay if associated with graduation.”
Parents can help graduates and their friends remain safe by taking responsibility, getting involved and setting limits. Here are a few tips for parents to keep in mind:
• Clearly communicate expectations Although you may have talked many times to your child about your expectations for healthy choices and the consequences of breaking the rules, graduation season is an important time to repeat these messages.
• Discuss the dangers of drinking and driving and riding in a car with a drunk driver. Parents who discuss possible scenarios and what to do in a dangerous situation increase the chances of their teens safe decision-making.
• Be awake when your teen comes home. A teen’s curfew should never exceed the parents ability to stay up. Tell your child you will be waiting up for them and you can’t wait to hear details about the party they attended.
• Do not serve or allow alcohol at any party you are hosting. An adult who provides alcohol to a minor is breaking the law and risking that teen’s life. If you host or allow a party at your house where alcohol is consumed by under age guests you could be sued if any harm, injury, or death results from the alcohol consumption.
To help protect our community, more Sheriff’s Deputies will be patrolling the roadways and neighborhoods during high risk times during graduation season. Anyone who sees or hears an out of control party or suspects underage drinking should report it by calling the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency.
http://waynecountysheriff.blogspot.com/2014/05/sheriffs-office-warns-about-underage.html
