How to Keep Alcohol out of the Prom

Prom night carries important significance for many teenagers as they experience this rite of passage. Along with the pageantry and festivities, some unfortunate dangers may occur. Underage drinking can pose a significant danger for teenagers at any time, and prom night is no exception. When your child has plans for prom, take proactive steps to ensure that your youngster̵7;s prom celebration occurs minus the alcohol.

Instructions

    • 1

      Discuss your teenager̵7;s prom plans to learn specific details about how she will travel to and from the prom, who she will be with, what she will do prior to the prom, any parties or after-prom gatherings she plans to attend and the location of every activity. Find out who will be driving your teen. Check out the limousine company for alcohol policies, if applicable. If your teen has any unplanned aspects of her evening, help her resolve these details to ensure that she has a plan for every part of the evening.

    • 2

      Talk about your policy of no alcohol for your teen̵7;s activities to ensure no misunderstandings exist. Clear communication about your expectations and rules helps reduce risk-taking behavior in teenagers, according to the Students Against Destructive Decisions website. Ensure that your teen understands the dangers of underage drinking and driving so he will avoid these risks.

    • 3

      Find out about any alcohol-prevention measures the school intends to put into place for keeping students safe. Many schools set up breathalyzer checkpoints at the entrance/exit of prom and official after-prom parties to test all students or random students for alcohol consumption. These breathalyzer checkpoints act as an alcohol deterrent for students.

    • 4

      Instruct your teen to keep her cell phone on and with her at all times during the evening. Urge your youngster to call you if any problems occur and promise that you will come pick her up if she needs help, without asking questions or punishing her. Later, you might ask a couple of nonthreatening questions to learn some details, but resist the urge to cross-examine your youngster.

    • 5

      Check in with your youngster one more time before he leaves for the evening to ensure nothing has changed about his planned activities. Get new details, if necessary. Give your teen last-minute instructions to stay safe, follow the no-alcohol rules and call you if any problems occur.

    • 6

      Follow through and respond to any cell phone calls, if they occur. Pick your child up, if necessary. Be grateful that your child made a responsible decision to avoid alcohol and that she trusted you enough to come to you for help.

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