Keeping Prom Night Safe

Have you bought the dress?

Rented the tux?

Ordered the flowers?

Talked to your son or daughter about the dangers of alcohol on prom night?

One of the reasons Alcohol Awareness Month is held in April is because it is the beginning of the prom and graduation season, a time when celebrations can turn dangerous for underage drinkers.

An article by The Huffington Post reports these startling facts:

· “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for the past several years during prom weekend, approximately 300 teens have died in alcohol-related car accidents.”

· “Also according to the NHTSA, one in three children under age 21 who died in alcohol-related accidents died during prom and graduation season.”

Clearly, heightened focus on fighting underage drinking, particularly at prom-graduation time, is critical. As a recent article in About Health explains, a 2012 survey conducted by The Century Council revealed that more than 50% of respondents aged 13-20 reported they are drinking alcoholic beverages. What’s even more disturbing is that 52% of those same 13-20 year olds reported they get the alcohol they drink from their parents or their friends’ parents.

Serving alcohol to minors is a serious, criminal offense. Even allowing underage youth access to alcohol (without directly providing it) violates states’ hosting laws. Parents take note: Providing or allowing underage youth access to alcohol opens you up to significant legal and financial liability.

So, before you buy the dress or rent the tux, talk to your child about alcohol and drug use. Even if you have talked previously with your son or daughter, prom and graduation nights are good times to reinforce your expectations. And remember, don’t just talk—listen and be reasonable. Specifically, talk about the dangers of getting into a car with someone who has been drinking.

And, let your child know he/she can call you at any time for help or advice and that you will pick him/her up if needed, no questions asked that night. Create a code word your child can use to indicate that help is needed.

Here are some other suggestions for parents from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD):

• Discuss rules for the prom: your own rules, the school rules and the consequences for violating the rules.

• Communicate ahead of time about the agenda for the evening.

• Discuss curfew and what acceptable after-curfew possibilities there might be (an alcohol- and drug-free post-prom party, inviting friends back home to spend the night under your supervision, etc.)

• Know who’s driving. If your teen is riding in a limo, check the company’s policy on allowing alcohol in the vehicle.

• Encourage seat belt use.

• Do not rent hotel rooms, or vacation rental properties, for prom-goers.

• Communicate with other parents about prom plans.

• Stay up for prom-goers’ return home.

And please remember, if you think your child may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, help is just a phone call away.

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