Governor, Police Ask Parents For Vigilance During Grad Season

As Newtown High School graduated more than 400 seniors this week, Governor M. Jodi Rell directed strong remarks to parents throughout the state to remain extra vigilant about eliminating access to alcohol for their teenagers during this prom and graduation season. In addition, she reminds parents that Connecticut has multiple laws that hold parents accountable for alcohol consumed in their homes.

“Parents need to set the rules — and the examples — for their teens. Sometimes the hardest conversations to have are the ones that keep our children safe,” Gov Rell said. “I urge all parents to have that conversation with their child. Set the rules, save a life — take responsibility.”

If parents in Connecticut host graduation or prom parties for underage youth, they can expect to face consequences under the state’s social hosting law. Under the law, parents face fines and imprisonment for multiple offenses.

In addition, they could face criminal and financial liability should any accidents or injuries occur as a result of the party.

Under the social host law, passed in part due to efforts by the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking in partnership with the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, parents are banned from allowing guests under age 21 access to alcohol in their homes.

Further, the law requires parents to take reasonable steps to stop any underage drinking at their home even if they did not provide the alcohol. Parents should also remember that having the kids stay over all night does not make their actions any less illegal.

“Beyond the legal ramifications, it’s important to remember that young people who start using alcohol before age 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life,” Jill K. Spineti, president/CEO of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership quoting from a US Surgeon General’s report.

Effective in 2006, the law has been enforced more strenuously each year, by state and local police. According to the Centralized Infractions Bureau, in 2007 police issued 75 infractions.

That number climbed to 81 in 2008 and 98 in 2009.

“Parents must take an active role in making sure their kids don’t have access to alcohol,” said Colonel Thomas Davoren, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police. “Doing the right thing for your child during prom and graduation season may not make a parent popular, but it will help keep the child alive.”

Fortunately, there are a number of proactive steps parents can take to ensure their child makes positive decisions, and setting rules may not be as difficult as parents think. In a Liberty Mutual/Students Against Destructive Decisions survey, teens reported that when parents set clear rules, it encourages youth to drive more safely and resist peer pressure.

The Governor’s Prevention Partnership shares these additional tips that can help parents do the right thing:

1. Parents must not serve alcohol: Allowing underage youth access to alcohol (without directly providing it) violates Connecticut’s social hosting law. Directly serving alcohol to minors is also a serious, arrestable offense.

2. Trust, but verify: Know your son or daughter’s itinerary for the evening and check in with other adults or your child. In this day of cellphones, it is not unreasonable to “check in” with your son or daughter to confirm that the teenager is where he/she says he/she is. Establish a curfew with your teenager based on past behavior and trustworthiness. Discuss your expectations and involve him or her in these decisions.

3. Don’t forget social media: Check your teenager’s Facebook, MySpace or Twitter account. If you do not know what something means — ask. There are lots of slang terms used as code to cover drinking and drug use, so if you are unsure as to what it being said, check out teenchatdecoder.com or decoder.drugfree.org.

4. Consider throwing an alcohol-free party: One strategy to keep teens safe is to host an alcohol-free party. This too requires vigilance, as everyone entering must be checked at the door and nobody should be allowed to leave and then return. Parents should also consider banning backpacks and outside beverages. Water bottles and other containers should not be allowed, as it is very easy to substitute alcohol for the original contents.

5. No hotel rooms: Do not rent teens a hotel room or let them go off to a remote location (like someone’s vacation home) without proper adult supervision. Teenagers and unsupervised seclusion can be a recipe for disaster.

6. Talk to your teen (and listen too): Even if you have talked previously with your son or daughter, prom and graduation nights are good times to reinforce your expectations. Do not just talk; listen and be reasonable. Specifically, talk about the dangers of getting into a car with someone who has been drinking.

7. Be there if they need you: Agree that your son or daughter can call you at anytime for help or advice and that you will pick him/her up if needed, no questions asked that night. Create a code word that your son or daughter can use to indicate that help is needed.

For more information about Connecticut laws related to underage drinking, visit www.preventionworksct.org/CCSUD.