Prom season is time for parents to talk about drinking dangers

Have you bought the dress?

Rented the tux?

Ordered the flowers?

Talked to your son or daughter about the dangers of alcohol on prom night?

The beginning of the prom and graduation season is upon us - a time when celebrations can turn dangerous for underage drinkers.

In fact, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that:

• For the past several years during prom weekend, approximately 300 teens have died in alcohol-related car accidents.

• One in three children under age 21 who died in alcohol-related accidents died during prom and graduation season.

Clearly, heightened focus on fighting underage drinking, particularly at prom and graduation time, is critical. A 2012 survey conducted by The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility revealed that more than 50% of respondents aged 13-20 reported they are drinking alcoholic beverages.

What's even more disturbing is that 52% of those same 13-20 year olds reported they get the alcohol they drink from their parents or their friends' parents. Serving alcohol to minors is a serious, criminal offense. Even allowing underage children access to alcohol (without directly providing it) violates states' hosting laws. Parents take note: Providing or allowing underage youth access to alcohol opens you up to significant legal and financial liability.

So, before you buy the dress or rent the tux, sit down and talk to your child about alcohol and drug use, especially as it relates to driving. Parents, you are the leading influence on your teen's decisions about alcohol, ahead of drivers ed classes and teachers.

And even if you've already spoken with your son or daughter, prom and graduation nights are good times to reinforce your expectations. After all, talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol isn't a one-time conversation. These topics should be brought up often so your kids know how to handle situations at parties, school, and elsewhere.

There are other important steps you can take to make prom night safe. Before you send your kids off, be sure to let them know they can call you at any time during the night for help or advice and that you will pick them up, no questions asked. It's also helpful to create a code word your child can use discreetly to let you know help is needed. Here are some other suggestions for parents from Students Against Destructive Decisions:

• Discuss rules for the prom: your own rules, the school rules and the consequences for violating the rules.

• Communicate ahead of time about the agenda for the evening.

• Discuss curfew and what acceptable after-curfew possibilities there might be (an alcohol- and drug-free post-prom party, inviting friends back home to spend the night under your supervision, etc.)

• Know who's driving. If your teen is riding in a limo, check the company's policy on allowing alcohol in the vehicle.

• Encourage seat belt use.

• Do not rent hotel rooms, or vacation rental properties, for prom-goers.

• Communicate with other parents about prom plans.

• Stay up for prom-goers' return home.

And please remember, if you think your child may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, help is just a phone call away.

• David Bohl is the executive director of Kiva Recovery, a treatment addiction center based in Vernon Hills.