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{tab=Pledge}
Protect your children by following these guidelines when hosting teen parties:
- Host safe, alcohol-free activities and events for youth
- Refuse to supply alcohol to children or allow drinking in your home or on your property
- Be at home when your teenager has a party
- Make sure your teenager's friends do not bring alcohol into your home
- Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at youth events
{tab=Parent Tips}
As a parent:
- You cannot give alcohol to your teen's friend under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even in your own home.
- Let your neighbors know in advance there will be a party and that you will be there to supervise.
- Secure all alcohol, firearms and other hazardous items.
Things you can do as a parent:
- Get to know your children's friends and their parents.
- Ask other parents about their policy on alcohol, drugs and tobacco use.
- Encourage alcohol-free and drug-free parties and activities for underage youth.
Party hosting suggestions:
- Refuse to supply alcohol to anyone under 21.
- Be at home when your teen has a party.
- Make sure alcohol is not brought into your home or property by your teen's friends.
- Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol at events your child will be attending.
- Create alcohol-free opportunities and activities in your home so teens feel welcome.
- Report underage drinking to local law enforcement.
{tab=Underage Drinking Facts}
29% of parents and teens know of parents who host teen alcohol parties. (Source: Parents Who Host Lose The Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking Evaluation Report, January 2007)
25% of teens attended a party where alcohol was served to underage youth in the past two months, while parents thought the number was closer to 15%. (Source: Parents Who Host Lose The Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking. Evaluation Report, January 2007)
Every day, 5,400 young people under 16 have their first drink of alcohol. (Source: Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth with calculations from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
Studies reveal that alcohol consumption by adolescents results in brain damage - possibly permanent - and impairs intellectual development. (Source: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Volume 24, Number 2 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism February 2000)
Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance abuse, and delinquent behavior in both middle and high school. By young adulthood, early alcohol use was associated with employment problems. (Source: Ellickson P., Tucker J., and Klein D. Ten-year prospective study of public health problems with early drinking. Pediatrics 111(5):949-955, 2003)
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