As your teen’s graduation date approaches, he or she is probably busy planning a festive celebration. This is good news, as finishing high school is certainly something to be proud of. Still, if your teen chooses to drink and drive, the graduation celebration may quickly turn into a nightmare.
According to a 2019 survey by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 5% of teens said they had driven under the influence of alcohol in the month before the survey. Another 17% claimed to have ridden with an intoxicated driver during the same time period.
Recognize your responsibility
To keep your teen from becoming a statistic, it is critical to recognize your responsibility as a parent. This starts by explaining the risks that come with drinking and driving, including the legal penalties. You also should be a good role model and abstain from drinking and driving yourself. Still, even if you do your best, your teen may give in to peer pressure and try to drive after consuming alcohol.
Host the party
If your teen is a social butterfly, he or she may want to attend several parties on graduation weekend. To combat this, you may want to host an epic party at your home. To make your party successful, order plenty of refreshments and consider giving away cash prizes. Also, be sure to have a place for your teen’s friends to sleep if someone brings alcohol to the party.
Play chauffer
Even if your teen is a good kid, he or she may want to drink alcohol. Consequently, it may be useful to tell your son or daughter to call you at any time and in any condition. While you may miss out on some much-needed sleep, playing chauffer may keep your child safe.
Ultimately, if you can keep your teen from drinking and driving on graduation weekend, you may help him or her avoid the potentially catastrophic consequences that often follow an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.
