TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Parental Guidance Necessary At Teens' Year-End Celebrations

ADVERTISEMENT

By SHERRI DUNHAM

Special to the Tribune

Published: May 25, 2008

As the end of another school year draws near, excitement is in the air for Pasco County high school students.

For juniors, there is the excitement of their approaching senior year. For seniors, events such as proms, graduation and year-end parties are creating lasting memories.

During this time of celebration, it is important for parents to continue to provide their teens with good parenting. Although these students are ready to start making decisions on their own, they still look to their parents for guidance, and this is a time when they should not relinquish their authority as a parent.

The Student Services Department of the Pasco County school board would like to encourage parents to sit down with their teens and discuss the dangers of illegal underage drinking.

Teenagers must understand that alcohol-related crashes and death by alcohol poisoning continue to claim the lives of young people. Parents should set clear expectations about underage drinking: It is against the law.

Other parents may not always be acting in your child's best interest. Some parents may sanction large graduation and post-prom parties where alcohol is readily available.

A parent who has adopted the misguided strategy that "I would rather they drink in front of me than behind my back" has pretty much guaranteed they will do both.
Open house parties involving underage drinking are illegal.

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention of Pasco County is Pasco's community anti-drug coalition.

One initiative sponsored by the coalition has been the "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" media campaign against underage drinking. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the laws against underage drinking, as well as the consequences of providing alcohol to underage people.

For information or to join the coalition, visit www.pascoasap.com/about_us.html.

As a reminder, Florida Statute 856.015 Open House Parties reads:

"(1) Definitions. As used in this section:

(a) "'Alcoholic beverage' means distilled spirits and any beverage containing 0.5 percent or more alcohol by volume. The percentage of alcohol by volume shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of s. 561.01(4)(b).

(b) "'Control' means the authority or ability to regulate, direct, or dominate.

(c) "'Drug' means a controlled substance, as that term is defined in ss. 893.02(4) and 893.03.

(d) "'Minor' means an individual not legally permitted by reason of age to possess alcoholic beverages pursuant to chapter 562.

(e) "'Open house party' means a social gathering at a residence.

(f) "'Person' means an individual 18 years of age or older.

(g) "'Residence' means a home, apartment, condominium, or other dwelling unit.

(2) No person having control of any residence shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if any alcoholic beverage or drug is possessed or consumed at said residence by any minor where the person knows that an alcoholic beverage or drug is in the possession of or being consumed by a minor at said residence and where the person fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of the alcoholic beverage or drug.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the use of alcoholic beverages at legally protected religious observances or activities.

(4) Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (2) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083."

Should you become aware of a situation involving adults sanctioning underage drinking, call the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

It is our responsibility as members of the Pasco County community to come together in an effort to keep our children safe. By working together, we can secure the bright futures of our precious youth.

The writer is a supervisor in the Student Students Department of the Pasco County school district.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT