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Can you help your teen plan a responsible party?

Firm News,Social Host Liability On Tuesday, April 16, 2019

When your teenager approaches you with an enthusiastic request to plan a party for his or her friends at your home in Connecticut, your initial response may be a resounding, “No.” However, after hearing all of your child’s negotiation tactics, you are considering whether or not you can help pull off a party that is both fun and safe. Because so much of the responsibility of protecting your child and his or her guests falls on your shoulders, it is helpful to be equipped with ideas of how you can facilitate a good time without allowing dangerous behavior to compromise everyone’s safety.

One of the most important things that you can do is to establish ground rules that are parallel to the rules you already maintain in your home. Involve your teen in setting boundaries for the party that will allow everyone to enjoy themselves in an environment that is controlled and safe. According to healthychildren.org, under no condition should you ever consider allowing alcohol or drugs into your home. Because minors respond differently to alcohol, the consequences of their consumption could leave you facing serious legal consequences. Some of the ways that you can be actively involved in helping your child plan a safe party include the following:

  • Designate clear times for the start and end of the party.
  • Work with your child to determine a guest list and do not allow “crashers” to be involved to keep the party from getting out of control.
  • Find a place where you can actively supervise the party, but allow your teen the opportunity to host the party alone.

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.  

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