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Underage drinking dangers during graduation season
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – It's graduation season for colleges and high schools, and that normally means graduation parties.
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While they are a celebration, they can also be dangerous when it comes to underage drinking.
The Longmeadow Close Community Coalition has placed lawn signs around the high school to remind students and parents of the dangers of underage drinking.
The coalition of Longmeadow for a drug-free community, or the close community, has placed lawn signs around the town, hoping to remind parents and teenagers of underage drinking.
Ananda Lennox, Director of Close Community Coalition, told 22News, 'Across the nation, there is always a handful or sometimes more of teen deaths that happen around prom and graduation season. And it almost always inevitably involves alcohol and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.'
Aside from the dangers of drinking and driving, there is also a law in place in 32 states, including Massachusetts, that holds a social host liable if something happens. James Winston, a Northampton Attorney, adds, 'It can be an adult or a minor who is in control of the premises who either furnishes directly or allows alcohol to be consumed on the premises.'
But premises doesn't just mean a house or apartment, it can include a hotel room, a rented room in a restaurant, or a boat. Social hosts can face civil and or criminal charges. 'The consequences can be quite dire both civilly, where we see judgments for millions of dollars, and criminally, where up to a year in prison, pay a $2,000 fine, or both,' Winston adds.
The coalition also has other initiatives year-round to help educate parents and others in the community, including the 'Safe Homes Network.' Lennox added, 'Parents can sign up for it, and they are just all in agreement that they are not going to allow underage drinking in their homes. If you know your kid is going to a party or get-together, you can look up a name and be like, 'Oh, that family signed the pledge, they are on the same side as I, so I can relax and not worry about them going off to socialize there.'
Lennox said they also work to empower parents to make decisions if their child is not listening, such as not paying for their child's car insurance if they are not following their rules.
Winston also said that parents or other social hosts shouldn't assume that if someone is involved in an accident under the social host, the homeowner's insurance will cover it. He said many homeowners' insurance policies won't cover it, as drinking under age is a criminal act.
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