Graduation and Underage Drinking
With prom and graduation season upon us, many law enforcement groups are collaborating to advise teens and their parents on a very simple and straightforward message: “Underage drinking is illegal and it will not be tolerated.”
Many store owners display signs warning teens or their parents of the consequences of getting caught drinking while underage. Law enforcement hopes this deters individuals from doing so. While many think teenagers are solely to blame for underage drinking around graduation time, there is much evidence that indicates that parents are equally to blame in many cases. In fact, many parents see high school graduation as a “rite of passage” where alcohol should be “allowed” to be consumed by underage graduates. Law enforcement wants to emphasize that no occasion is exempt from breaking the laws associated with underage drinking.
If you are concerned that your child may engage in underage drinking around graduation, research shows that involvement is the best way to prevent this. Knowing who your teens are with, where they are, and what they are doing encourages teens to understand that others are aware of their actions – and their underage drinking. Hosting a party at your home can also allow you to keep an eye on things and watch out for underage drinking during graduation.