Hosting teen parties
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Hosting teen parties
| Fri, 05-04-2007 - 1:39pm |
We just had a terrible thing happen in our small community where a high schooler died from an injury sustained after drinking at a party. The party was "supervised" by an adult who now has been arrested for allowing underage drinking at his home. My question is this: How can we encourage our kids to bring friends into our home, maybe watch movies, play pool, etc. without the possibility of one or more of them potentially sneaking in some alcohol? I'm not naive enough to think that couldn't happen. My husband and I would definitely be home but the get-together would take place in the basement. We would occassionally head downstairs to take more snacks, pop, etc. but we don't want to be too intrusive or we're afraid the kids will feel "spied upon". We have stressed to both of our teens to make sure they let their friends know that we do not want alcolhol brought into our home. Any suggestions on how to handle teen get-togethers and not risk trouble with the law?

My son who is 19 always had a houseful of people at our house and I was glad to provide a place for them to hang out. He knew there was to be no alcohol as did all the other kids who came here on any kind of a regular basis and they "policed" themselves. We had an incident where someone came to the house during a party and had beer. My son told them to leave and they did. Just a few weeks ago while he was home on spring break they were all going to be here and one of the other boy's college friends asked my son if there would be supervision there. My son said you mean as in can you bring alcohol? The boy replied yes, and my son point blank told him there would be NO alcohol in our house regardless of whether an adult was present.....
All that being said, I trust my son 100%.... but I have a 16 yr old daughter who doesn't seem to have the same moral compass and follows the crowd too much for my comfort.... I am working on that one.
One more thing.... it depends on the state what can be done as far as criminal charges. In my state, not only can the person who purchases the alcohol for the underage kids be charged, but so can any other "of age" adult present and the person whose home it is whether or not they are home..... It is certainly not something as a parent I want to take a chance on happening in my home.... Trust your instincts with your kids and keep a watchful eye. If someone brings alcohol in, you will know it.....if you are paying attention.
Rose