Graduation season is a time parents both look forward to and fear. Every year, during graduation season, communities and local law enforcement agencies are on the look-out against an increase number of cases of underage drinking
As new high school and university graduates celebrate their success, many hold or attend parties where inevitably there is alcohol involved. The new high school graduates often ask their parents to allow them to party unchaperoned, and when parents become indulgent and agree, the risks of something going wrong increases. Even when the partying teenagers do not drive themselves home afterwards, the effects of too much drinking during graduation parties can still have serious consequences.
Among these consequences are drunken teenagers become reckless. Under the influence of alcohol, some begin to think they are invincible and pull stunts like jumping into swimming pools or taking a leap from the roof. Many end up breaking a leg or with more serious injuries, or worse, drowning or dying because of injuries.
In 2014, a national US survey was released wherein it was stated that 1,032 youth aged 13 to 20 had consumed at least one drink of alcohol within the past 30 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2014 also released a report regarding underage drinking in New York City and high school students. It was found that among high school students, 26.5 percent of females and 22.7 percent of males drink alcohol; 10.4 percent of males and 11 percent of females report drinking five or more bottles or cocktails in a row; and 1.1 percent of females and 2.1 percent of males report taking 10 or more drinks one after the other. These statistics were taken during regular, non-holiday periods. These statistics are always feared to spike during graduation season.
For this reason, schools, police departments and organizations run by parent associations conduct annual campaigns close to graduation season informing both students and their parents against the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. One of the main messages? Alcohol and teenagers make a bad combination.
Police authorities also make it a point to make more rounds in residential communities and areas to check impromptu parties hosted by teenagers. There have been many cases of teenagers taking advantage of the fact that their parents are out of town and hold parties on their own - opening the liquor cabinet and drinking everything alcoholic in sight. These are the parties that have the tendency to get out of hand.
