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Stay Strong: Parents must prevent underage drinking

It is graduation season. It is Memorial Day weekend. It is the start of summer. It is party time.

And for parents whose under-21 children are asking to attend, or even host, some of these parties, there might be some tough negotiations ahead. Do not weaken.

As the Drug Free Action Alliance puts it, “parents who host lose the most,” when hosting includes providing (or willfully ignoring) alcohol.

Last weekend, a Meigs County woman found that out the hard way, when she allowed approximately 100 teenagers to party on her property “with underage drinking as well as drug usage occurring,” according to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. She and her 18-year-old son are now awaiting charges by the Ohio Investigative Unit.

Also awaiting charges are anyone under the age of 21 who was drinking at the party. Many of those people are waiting to be able to retrieve their vehicles from the impound lot as well. Worse, one underage girl is recovering after having been taken to the hospital by ambulance after law enforcement arrived at the scene. She is likely fortunate someone arrived to realize she needed help.

Do not fall for it, folks. Do not try to be the “cool” parents. Do not try to convince yourself you are keeping young people safer by allowing them to drink under your “supervision.”

Set the rules and enforce them. No alcohol, no drugs, no turning a blind eye. Many of the young people attending parties this season are recent high school graduates. That does not mean they no longer need help — and enforcement of the rules — to make good decisions. Parents, you still have a responsibility to them and to the community at large. The DFAA has another piece of advice to offer:

“Don’t be a party to teenage drinking.”

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