Dress shopping, haircuts, French manicures, tux rental, shoes….yep you guessed it, we are once again in the middle of prom season. The onset of prom mania can only mean one thing, graduation and newfound freedom are just around the corner for many of the prom attendees.
“This is such an exciting time for teens,” said Trooper David Harmen. “They are fired up about the prom. They know summer is almost here. Many of them know that graduation is close. Sometimes, in the midst of all the celebrating, things get out of hand. I remember when some parents threw a party for their teen and a bunch of his friends. They took keys as the teens arrived, thinking they were doing the responsible thing. Alcohol was served to these under aged young people, which is illegal. At some point during the evening, a couple of teens sneaked into the party. They had a few drinks and left. On their way home, they crashed and both of them were killed. It was devastating on many levels. I will never forget having to tell their parents what had happened.”
Many well-meaning parents want to make prom night memorable for their teen, but in the process of doing that, it is critical to consider what is legal and what is in the best interest of your teen and his/her friends.
According to the Department of Transportation, prom nights are among the most lethal for young people. More than 5,000 teens are injured or killed in a typical prom weekend. Most of these accidents are alcohol related. This means whether your teen is drinking or not, if they are out on the road they are at risk.
“I encourage parents to move past the idea that their young person would never engage in risky behavior,” said Trooper Harmen. “You need to stay close to your teen. Parents should educate themselves on the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use. I believe one of the most important things parents can do is set a good example.”
To help ensure your teen has a great prom experience, experts recommend parents do the following:
- Make sure your teen has a plan for the evening. Talk to him/her about their plan. Where will they be when and with whom will they be going. You cannot have too much information. Make your expectations clear about alcohol consumption and other risky behavior. Don’t assume your teen knows that one 12 ounce beer, 4 ounces of wine and a 1 ½ shot of liquor all have the same amount of alcohol, that 70 percent of teens killed on prom night are not wearing seatbelts or that sleepy drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers. In spite of their potential protests at sitting down to talk about these issues, most every parent, police officer and medical professional would agree it is worth it in the long run.
- If you have a daughter, encourage her to get her own drinks to help avoid any chance that something could be put in her drink without her knowledge.
- If you are throwing an after the prom party, remember, it is illegal to serve alcohol to minors. Your best intentions could come back to bite you no matter how careful you are.
- If your teen is going to a party after the prom, make sure you know the parents and whether they share your values.
- Remind your teen to be extra careful in the car – even though they are not drinking, the people in the car next to them may have been.
- Make sure your teen knows he/she can call you at any time to be picked up without questions. There will be plenty of time for the third degree 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.
