Teach your teens the dangers involved with underage drinking

Firm News,Social Host Liability On Sunday, December 31, 2017

You are an involved parent and you have done your best to teach your child about avoiding underage drinking. However, you know that teenagers often believe they know best, and they might do what they want despite your wishes, especially when they are trying to fit in with their peers. We at Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., understand that you and other parents in Connecticut might be worried about what your teenagers are doing when they are out with their friends.

The statistics about underage drinking may give you cause to worry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 33 percent of high school students admitted to drinking alcohol at some point in the past 30 days in a survey. Additionally, 18 percent of them said they had binge drank, 8 percent had driven after drinking and 20 percent said they got in a car with a driver who had been drinking.

How can you keep your child safe and convey the crucial points about underage drinking? A good step in the right direction is keeping an honest, respectful and loving line of communication open with your teen. Invite an open discussion about what might happen after drinking too much at a party – including getting sick, being assaulted or getting in a drunk driving accident. One of the most important points to make is that you will be willing to pick up your child without being angry if he or she does not have a safe ride home. Under no circumstances should your teen get behind the wheel after drinking or ride with someone who drank.

Also, you have the right to know that anyone hosting a party who serves alcohol to minors may be liable for any damages or injuries that occur, as our page on social host liability explains.

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