AMARILLO,TEXAS -- The Amarillo School District is targeting parents in the prevention of underage drinking.
With area high school proms and graduations approaching AISD is providing reasons why parents should not host an underage drinking party.
The top ten reasons range from parents facing public humiliation to other consequences.
Stephanie Clayton, AISD Alcohol Abuse Assistant Director says, "it's illegal to provide alcohol to a minor...there is a four thousand dollar fine associated with it along with up to a year of jail time and your license can be suspended for 180 days."
AISD students are helping spread the message as well. Some students produced a video discouraging underage drinking and drug usage.
"I think the video is important because alcohol seems like it's a big problem among teens and I think the video could bring awareness to that and if it has a chance to inform somebody and save somebody's life I think it makes it worth it," said Amarillo High School Student, Laren Hawkins.
AISD's Top Ten Reasons Not to Host an Underage Drinking Party
10. Rather than spending a year in jail for providing alcohol to minors (TABC, 2010), you could spend the year teaching your son how to drive. After all, orange is not your color!
9. The money you save from not buying alcohol could help pay for your daughter's prom dress and those shoes she has been dying to have.
8. You can be held liable for damages caused by intoxication of a minor if you knowingly provide them with alcohol (TABC, 2010). I don't know about you, but being held liable for anything a teenager might or might not do is not a chance I am willing to take!
7. You could be spending the next 6 months bumming a ride off your teenager to get to work after your driver's license is suspended (TABC, 2010). But, on the bright side, it would be excellent bonding time!
6. Because you have worked so hard making sure they get the best education possible, and when you combine alcohol and a developing brain, long term damage can occur to things such as memory and problem solving skills.
5. Taking the keys is not enough. Underage drinking is dangerous and illegal, with or without driving.
4. Vomit is icky. Do you really want to be cleaning up throw up off of your new carpet?
3. There are just certain things you don't want running on the front page of the paper. Hosting an underage drinking party is most definitely one of them!
2. Alcoholism! Teens that begin drinking before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop alcoholism than those that begin drinking at 21 (SAMHSA). Every family wants to leave a legacy; you don't want alcoholism to be yours!
1. You love your kids! You want the best for them! When kids were asked what the most important job of a parent was, they said to love, protect, and teach! Protect them, don't provide alcohol.
