In just a few weeks Bryson Henson will be attending his senior prom. He has a date, the corsage, his tux and the tickets, what more does he need?

 

“I have definitely learned that besides all the stuff you have to have for prom you better have a plan in place for the evening, otherwise things can get out of control fast,” said Mr. Henson. “Last year we all went out to dinner and to the prom. Afterwards, all the girls went to someone’s house to spend the night. My friends and I rented a houseboat so we all went there for the night. We had a great time and we remember everything that happened. I think we will probably do something similar this year.”

 

Thousands of couples will spend between $800 and $1,500 on this annual rite of passage with expectations for a great night of fun.

 

“There are a lot of people out there who do crazy things on prom night,” said Mr. Henson. “I am fortunate that I have a great group of friends who are not into that stuff. Personally, I like the idea of being able to walk into school on Monday after prom and not worry about being embarrassed for what I did prom night that I don’t remembering doing. You can have a great time with friends without getting drunk and doing things that will come back to haunt you.”

 

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, during typical prom weekends in 2005, 290 young people ages 15-20 were killed in alcohol-related crashes, of those, 198 deaths involved a 15-20-year-old impaired driver.

 

“Even though it sometimes feels like your parents are all up in your business, prom night can be dangerous so parents should know what their teens are planning, who they will be with and where they will be going,” said Mr. Henson.

 

If you have a teen headed to the prom there are some things you as parents can do to help ensure they have a great time.

 

Make sure they have a plan for the evening – Your teen should give you a complete run down for the evening including who they will be with and where they will be going before and after the prom. Be clear about your expectations for checking in. Some parents want to hear from their teen whenever they move to a different location others expect their teen to check in periodically throughout the evening.

 

Discuss curfew - Work together to determine a fair curfew. Take into consideration your teen’s trustworthiness and ability to be responsible.

 

Be specific about your concerns regarding safety - explain why prom night makes it more difficult to make safe and smart decisions. Don't leave anything to their imagination -- discuss the dangers surrounding drinking, drugs, driving under the influence, and sex. Make sure you know who will be driving. If you teen rents a limo with friends check out the limo company’s rules about alcohol.

 

Be sure you have information about the after party – many teens attend after parties at a friend’s house. Do not assume that the same rules that apply in your home apply in the home where the after party is held. Some parents believe it is okay to serve alcohol to underage teens as long as the keys are checked at the door. Parents who choose to have a party at their house where minors are drinking alcohol need to consider the consequences. According to District Attorney Bill Cox, if law enforcement shows up at that party, teens can be charged with drinking under age and could face a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days on probation and the loss of their license for a year. Parents can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and could face a sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in the Hamilton County workhouse or probation for that amount of time. These consequences would be minor compared to having to live with the loss of a life due to teenage drinking.

 

Give your teen an unconditional offer for assistance – Make sure your teen knows that you want to be their first call for help. Some parents and teens have an agreed upon code that can be used in the event that the teen feels uncomfortable with her date or does not want to go along with an unsafe plan. Be specific that you are willing to pick them up at any time and will save the lecture for later.

 

Most importantly, your teen needs to know you love him/her. One of the best ways to show this is to set limits and help them understand that limits are intended to make sure that the best laid prom plans are played out in a safe environment.