Help keep your teens safe on prom night

The prom is one of the most memorable events in the life of a high school student. For many it’s a once-in-a-lifetime night, planned for months and talked about for years afterward.

But it’s important to remember that, as fun as prom night can be, it can also be dangerous. All too often, all over the country, communities are grief-stricken the day after the prom because of a drunken driving crash involving teenagers. Those accidents are entirely avoidable.

Teens simply must know the consequences of drinking on prom night. Remind them that if a friend gets behind the wheel of a car drunk and won’t listen to reason, they should not take that ride. Assure them that you would much rather get a call from them, asking for a ride, than a call from the police.

Many limousine companies that prom-goers use will require them to sign a contract for the night, stating what the occupants can and cannot do. Many of these agreements prohibit alcohol. If it is discovered, a voided contract can leave a couple or a group of friends without a ride home. Make it clear that this is not the call you want to get.

Many schools suspend or expel students who show up at the prom under the influence or drink while there. In that case the call may come from the principal. Spell out what the consequences will be if that happens.

Given the growing popularity of “social host” laws, house parties are also a bad idea. If teenagers drink in your home, even if you’re not aware of it, and if a drunken teen leaves your house in a car and gets into an accident, you can be held accountable.

What this means is that being responsible on prom night applies not only to those in the dresses and tuxes, but also to their parents. Don’t be the “cool” parents who lets the kids have a few beers at the house. It’s irresponsible, it’s unsafe and, in more and more communities, it’s prosecutable.

Parents should make sure that prom chaperones know how to contact them in case of an emergency, and teenagers should make sure that their parents are aware of their post-prom plans, and should call and let them know if those plans change.

Many school districts, knowing that teens will be tempted to leave the prom and head to parties where there’s little or no supervision, now host their own post-prom gatherings. These are safe, alcohol-free events, monitored by adults, at which teens can still have a good time. Indeed, many of them go late into the night, which is fine with most parents; simply knowing that their children are safe and sober is a perfectly acceptable tradeoff for letting them stay up till the wee hours. Ideally, by the time the party’s over, they’ll be too tired to go out and drink.

The prom should be a fun and enjoyable night for everyone, students and parents alike. Make sure your teens understand that they can ruin it by making destructive decisions, or they can stay safe and still have a ball.