Viewpoint: Parents are responsible if they host a party with alcohol for teens
By Viewpoint
May 08, 2010, 7:47AM
By The Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force Steering CommitteeDon’t be a party to teenage drinking. It’s against the law.
The Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force wants to remind you: Parents who host lose the most.
What does that mean? For starters, it means you could lose money or even some freedom if you violate Michigan’s laws regarding teens and alcohol. But such losses are meaningless when compared to the ultimate potential loss — the precious, irreplaceable life of a teenager. Imagine bearing that burden for the rest of your life.
Proms, graduation parties, end-of-school celebrations and other gatherings will likely crowd your teen’s calendar this spring. You and your teen may even be planning a party of your own.
Have you thought about what might happen if you allow alcohol at your event? Even if you don’t buy alcohol for your teen’s party, attendees may still get it from your home or from a sibling or friend who is over the age of 21.
Some parents believe it’s safer for their teens to drink at home than anywhere else. Other adults, including some parents, mistakenly think that underage drinking is part of growing up.
They may view it as a rite of passage — one that often follows a teen’s high school graduation instead of his 21st birthday.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration recently reported that 40 percent of youth, ages 12-20, who used alcohol in the past 30 days reported receiving free alcohol from an adult.
New social host liability laws in states across the country are changing parents’ minds about what may have been considered “safe” teen drinking at home. As the responsibility for underage drinking shifts from teens who consume alcohol to parents who provide it, more and more adults are seeing their responsibility in a new light.
In Michigan, hosts of parties at which a minor either possesses or consumes alcohol are committing a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.
Additionally, anyone who furnishes alcohol to a minor, regardless of age or relationship, is committing a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail, community service and a fine of up to $1,000 for the first offense.
Parents may be held responsible even if they’re not home when underage drinking occurs. They may also be held responsible if underage drinking takes place anywhere on their property. Social host liability laws often extend to parents who fail to take sufficient measures to prevent underage drinking in their homes. You have helped your teen make it safely to graduation, so why stop now?
The Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force recognizes that community attitudes and actions play a critical role in the behavior and development of teens. That’s why the task force is spearheading a community-wide awareness campaign called Parents Who Host Lose the Most during prom/graduation season.
Please, join us in reinforcing the message that underage drinking is unacceptable in Kalamazoo County. Visit www.kzootaskforce.com to learn more or to get information on how to get involved.
Members of the Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force Steering Committee are: Linda Buzas, Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department; Jeff Fink, Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney; Ron Fuller, Kalamazoo Regional Education Services Agency; Jeff Hadley, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety; Jeff Patton, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Ed Sackley, district representative for U.S. Rep. Fred Upton; Danielle Sielatycki, Prevention Works; Pete Strazdas, City of Portage; Marsha Wells, Portage Public Schools; and Richard White, City of Portage Police Department.
Date: May 08, 2010
Source: Gazette
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