Parents and teen parties
The prom and graduation season has arrived, accompanied by parties and other celebrations. While teens anticipate these activities with great enthusiasm, parents often go into worry mode about how to keep their children both happy and safe. Most parents worry because most teens feel the need to party and drink, which is dangerous enough in itself. But teens do more than just drink and get drunk, they sometimes even drive while under the influence, have unprotected sex and get into fights.
Young people have been known to network among themselves to find out whose parents will be away – then their house becomes the party house. They sometimes park away from the house and walk to the party to deflect attention from themselves. What they probably don’t know or fail to consider is that minors who hold house parties where alcohol is available are leaving their parents liable both criminally and civilly. And there are also penalties for minors who possess or transport alcohol; individuals who contribute to the delinquency of a minor or sell, deliver, or furnish alcohol to those under 21 years of age; and for individuals who operate a motor vehicle while under the influence.
