Graduation Parties: Have Fun, Be Safe!
By Chris Allen - Faculty
GRADUATION…
Graduation is a time to celebrate and have fun. Parents, however, need to be very clear in communicating with their teens about the risks of drinking alcohol as well as the legal dangers you may be creating for yourself if you allow teenagers to drink alcohol on your property.
IT’S ABOUT YOUR TEEN...
A teenager’s brain is still developing and it is very sensitive to alcohol’s effects on judgment and decision-making. Just one or two drinks can significanyly impair a teen's judgement.
BE AWARE OF YOUR LIABILITY...
If you supply alcohol to underage teenagers or allow them to drink alcohol on your property, you could be liable for any poor decisions they make due to alcohol impairment.
ALCOHOL CAN BE TRICKY...
If your teen drinks, he or she may temporarily feel elated and happy, but should not be fooled. Ask your teen to consider these risks:
- Their inhibitions and memory soon become affected—so they may say and do things that they will regret and possibly won't remember doing at all.
- Their decision-making skills are also affected. They may become restless and aggressive. They may be more at risk for having an alcohol-related traffic crash, getting into fights, trashing a house, or making unwise decisions about sex.
- Then there is what happens to their physical control—loss of balance, slurred speech, and blurred vision. Normal activities—even crossing a busy intersection—can become truly dangerous.
TOO MUCH ALCOHOL MAY BE DEADLY…
If your teen drinks enough, he or she will eventually get sleepy and pass out. Reflexes like gagging and breathing can be suppressed. That means he or she could vomit and choke to death or just stop breathing. Your teen may even be at risk for alcohol poisoning.
TALK WITH YOUR GRADUATE...
Research shows that parents do make a difference. Talking with your teen about alcohol now could prevent serious problems later.
REMEMBER...
It is perfectly fine for your teen to attend and have fun at graduation parties. They just need to find a safe way to do it.
