Alcohol does not need to be part of prom
and graduation celebrations

As prom and graduation season approaches, it is important that all parents remember that it is unsafe and illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age. During this time of year, the opportunities for our teens to drink tend to increase, but they don't have to. By working together to create safe, fun, and alcohol-free environments for our teens we can help create positive, life-long memories of these special milestones for our teens. In surveys, our teens have actually said they want their parents help in providing fun alternatives to drinking. (Click here to see what else our teens have to say about what parents can do to encourage them not to drink.)

What do DHS and HPHS teens think parents should do to encourage teens not to drink? Click the picture to watch and find out.

Some parents may think they are keeping teens safe by giving them a place to drink and taking away the keys to prevent drinking and driving. However, taking away the keys does not take away all the risks. Almost 70% of all deaths associated with underage drinking are not on the roadways - they are homicides, suicides, alcohol poisonings, falls, drowning, burns, etc. Not to mention the other impacts of underage drinking, like unplanned or unsafe sex, injuries, and greater chances of having problems with alcohol later in life.

This means that parents, who talk with their kids about drunk driving, but not about waiting until 21 to drink, are missing an important step in keeping their teens safe. And parents who provide alcohol to teens should consider the other potential harms and consequences they risk inflicting upon them.