This just in from the The Daily Sentinel, Nacogdoches, TX (Sunday, March 30, 2008)...
Furnishing alcohol to a minor, interfering with public duties and minor in consumption of alcohol, 2000 block of CR 811. A deputy responded to a noise complaint and made contact with a man who said he was throwing an after-prom party. The man told the deputy that he was responsible for the party and all the alcohol. Also, the deputy noted that all the people at the party were underage. The man was arrested.
You've heard it before... "Mom, trust me, this is a party at a friend's house and his parents will be there". Great!
There is still time to organize an after-prom party if your kid's school does not have one planned. The risks of not having a party far surpass the extra work it will take to pull something together with short notice. Regardless of your time frame, my book can save you a lot of time and money.... and maybe together we can save someones life.
Best of luck to all you moms and dads that I've heard from these past few months. This is a great thing you're doing.
Showing posts with label teenage drinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teenage drinking. Show all posts
Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, July 02, 2007
Speaking of teenage drinking...
Rick Badie writes an opinion column about people, places and issues in Gwinnett County, GA. Yesterday he published an article that was titled...
You’re your kid’s parent, not a barkeep
He opened his column with... "In April, a high school senior died after boozing it up at an after-prom party". He goes on to say that, "when it comes to kids and alcohol, hers (an adult charged with permitting such a party) is the face of a peculiar breed of adults". I couldn't possibly due justice to Mr. Badie's article, but I highly recommend that you give it a look.
We need more "opinions" like Mr. Badie's and fewer adults who prefer to be their kids' friend instead of their parent.
Read this excellent article here...
You’re your kid’s parent, not a barkeep
He opened his column with... "In April, a high school senior died after boozing it up at an after-prom party". He goes on to say that, "when it comes to kids and alcohol, hers (an adult charged with permitting such a party) is the face of a peculiar breed of adults". I couldn't possibly due justice to Mr. Badie's article, but I highly recommend that you give it a look.
We need more "opinions" like Mr. Badie's and fewer adults who prefer to be their kids' friend instead of their parent.
Read this excellent article here...
Friday, May 18, 2007
Hosts Of Post-Prom Party Fined
Adults Seized Car Keys, But Allowed Minors To Have Alcohol
This true story dovetails with the previous blog post regarding the problems parents face trying to address the after-prom celebrating and the inevitable parties that follow...
The parents in this case wanted to keep the teens from drinking and driving after the prom. They offered their home and even took the car keys from all kids who attended. Safety was the reason behind this private after-prom party. (see full story)
Under their state's law, it is illegal for a property owner to permit anyone under 21 to possess alcohol on the property or for the owner to fail to make reasonable efforts to stop a minor from possessing alcohol on the property, including private homes. This law makes a first offense an infraction and subsequent offenses subject to as much as one year in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both.
They had good intentions, but unknowingly were breaking a law that cost them hundreds of dollars in fines and one tough lesson. Knowing that kids will be kids and there is a "tradition" of after-prom drinking and partying, this seemed like a good way to address the problem. Unfortunately, the police didn't agree with their solution.
Sometimes even our best intentions are not the best solution to a problem. Helping parents and schools address this was the reason I wrote my book, the After Prom Party Guide. It is a blueprint for planning, staging and managing an after-prom party or after-graduation party.
This true story dovetails with the previous blog post regarding the problems parents face trying to address the after-prom celebrating and the inevitable parties that follow...
The parents in this case wanted to keep the teens from drinking and driving after the prom. They offered their home and even took the car keys from all kids who attended. Safety was the reason behind this private after-prom party. (see full story)
Under their state's law, it is illegal for a property owner to permit anyone under 21 to possess alcohol on the property or for the owner to fail to make reasonable efforts to stop a minor from possessing alcohol on the property, including private homes. This law makes a first offense an infraction and subsequent offenses subject to as much as one year in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both.
They had good intentions, but unknowingly were breaking a law that cost them hundreds of dollars in fines and one tough lesson. Knowing that kids will be kids and there is a "tradition" of after-prom drinking and partying, this seemed like a good way to address the problem. Unfortunately, the police didn't agree with their solution.
Sometimes even our best intentions are not the best solution to a problem. Helping parents and schools address this was the reason I wrote my book, the After Prom Party Guide. It is a blueprint for planning, staging and managing an after-prom party or after-graduation party.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
The party's over...
The 2007 prom season is winding down as most schools have already had their proms or are scheduled to do so in the upcoming weeks. It has been a happy time for some, and the worst of times for others. As is usually the case at this time of the year, the news stories have been coming in relating "Prom Night Tragedies". I monitor prom-related news and stories via Google Alerts and seldom a day goes by that stories such as this are reported...
The 2007 prom season may be over, but we still have graduation ahead of us and the same after-graduation parties are planned. It is not too late to get your organization motivated to organize an event that will keep the kids safe on this special night. My book may be titled the "After Prom Party Guide", but it plays just as well for graduation party planning.
To all those parents, schools, PTAs/PTOs and other organizations who had the foresight to plan a party for the kids....
Many of those schools or organizations that did not sponsor an all night after-prom party saw such things happen in their communities. It is not enough that some kids or parents sponsor an "un-official" after-prom party as these private affairs have a way of getting out of hand. In addition, some parents think they are doing the kids a favor by providing alcohol to teens in a "supervised" fashion."Several of the underage people had made statements that the alcoholic beverages was (sic) provided by the home owners," the warrants stated.
Two high school seniors and the mother of a girl who threw an after-prom party have been charged as part of the investigation in the death of an 18-year-old student at the party.2 Students, Adult Charged In After-Prom Party Where 1 Died
When 'little prom party blew up'
Once prom ended, the partying began
The 2007 prom season may be over, but we still have graduation ahead of us and the same after-graduation parties are planned. It is not too late to get your organization motivated to organize an event that will keep the kids safe on this special night. My book may be titled the "After Prom Party Guide", but it plays just as well for graduation party planning.
To all those parents, schools, PTAs/PTOs and other organizations who had the foresight to plan a party for the kids....
Thank You!
You may have saved someones life!
You may have saved someones life!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Prom and graduation season is upon us...
There is a wonderful website for a group based in Columbus, Ohio called the Drug-Free Action Alliance. Their mission is to provide leadership and foster networks to promote safe and drug free communities throughout Ohio. They want to increase public awareness of substance abuse and its harmful effects and the role of Drug-Free Action Alliance in substance abuse prevention.
They have an excellent article on their website, which I am going to include below as it addresses something that we hear about every year at this time... parents who host parties for teens and serve (or permit) alcohol at these parties. The article is entitled "Parents Who Host, Lose The Most".
Don’t be a party to teenage drinking
Parents play a major role in their children’s choices about alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. In a recent national survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, one-third of teen partygoers have been to parties where teens were drinking alcohol, smoking pot, or using cocaine, Ecstasy or prescription drugs while a parent was present. By age 17, nearly half (46 percent) of teens have been at such parties where parents were present.
Drug-Free Action Alliance has developed the “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking” public awareness campaign to provide parents with accurate information about the health risks of underage drinking and the legal consequences of providing alcohol to youth. The campaign encourages parents and the community to send a unified message at prom and graduation time that teen alcohol consumption is not acceptable. It is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy for anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol.Here are the facts:
There is still time to pull together an alcohol-free party for your school's senior prom, get the After Prom Party Guide - and get busy!
There is a wonderful website for a group based in Columbus, Ohio called the Drug-Free Action Alliance. Their mission is to provide leadership and foster networks to promote safe and drug free communities throughout Ohio. They want to increase public awareness of substance abuse and its harmful effects and the role of Drug-Free Action Alliance in substance abuse prevention.
They have an excellent article on their website, which I am going to include below as it addresses something that we hear about every year at this time... parents who host parties for teens and serve (or permit) alcohol at these parties. The article is entitled "Parents Who Host, Lose The Most".
Don’t be a party to teenage drinking
Parents play a major role in their children’s choices about alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. In a recent national survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, one-third of teen partygoers have been to parties where teens were drinking alcohol, smoking pot, or using cocaine, Ecstasy or prescription drugs while a parent was present. By age 17, nearly half (46 percent) of teens have been at such parties where parents were present.
Drug-Free Action Alliance has developed the “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking” public awareness campaign to provide parents with accurate information about the health risks of underage drinking and the legal consequences of providing alcohol to youth. The campaign encourages parents and the community to send a unified message at prom and graduation time that teen alcohol consumption is not acceptable. It is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy for anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol.Here are the facts:
- Parents who give alcohol to their teen’s friends under any circumstances, even in their own homes, are breaking the law.
- Parents who knowingly allow a person under 21 to remain in their home or on their property while consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages can be prosecuted and everything associated with such a violation can be confiscated, including personal property.
- Parents can be sued if they give alcohol to anyone under 21 and they in turn hurt someone, hurt themselves or damage property.Underage use of alcohol is a serious problem that too often leads to harmful consequences for youth and their families. Parents can protect themselves and their teens by following these guidelines when hosting parties for their children:
- Host safe, alcohol-free activities and events for youth during prom and graduation season
- Refuse to supply alcohol to children or allow drinking in your home or on your property
- Be at home when your teenager has a party
- Make sure your teenager’s friends do not bring alcohol into your home
- Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at youth events
- Report underage drinking
There is still time to pull together an alcohol-free party for your school's senior prom, get the After Prom Party Guide - and get busy!
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