A Prom Arrest Can Put a Rest to Your Teen's Promising Future

The High School Prom should be a night of safe, responsible fun. But for some typically good teenagers, it can turn into a night of reckless behavior culminating in an arrest—their first and only arrest. And this single arrest can have dire consequences, such as the withdrawal of a college acceptance and/or scholarship and disqualification for most jobs worth having. Employers typically conduct criminal background checks and often disqualify any candidate with an arrest on record. This goes for police and fire departments, the US Military, and many corporations.

Underage drinking is the main culprit leading to Prom-related arrests. Many teenagers who typically avoid alcohol may find the pressure to drink alcohol at parties before and after the Prom too much to resist. A sober reminder of what underage drinking can lead to may be all your teenager needs to hear, however.  Talk to your teen about the legal and health consequences of underage drinking, such as DUI, DWI, alcohol poisoning, and bodily injury or death resulting from a car accident caused by drunk driving. Encourage your teen to take the pledge to stay sober on Prom Night (see link to http://www.safesober.com/take-the-pledge/).

The High School Prom marks the end of a chapter in a teenager’s life, but it also opens the door to a future full of dreams of attending college, pursuing a special career, travelling, starting a family, etc. Don’t let a Prom-related arrest close the door on your teen’s promising future.