Parties, trips to Mexico, among plans for graduating Spring Valley teens

SPRING VALLEY – Students at Monte Vista High School are leading a campaign to curb underage drinking during graduation season.

Whispers of teens planning to host parties after graduation, and others getting their passports to head to Tijuana for celebrations, are filling the hallways at local high schools.

 For students who plan to stick near home, hosting the best graduation party- with alcohol- is also in the midst of conversation.

 “Some kids’ parents are renting hotel rooms for them to party in, and some parents let their kids drink at home. They would rather be there while it’s happening than let their kids go out and get drunk,” said (ECYC) East County Youth Coalition member Ashlyn Thomas.  Both teens and parents need to realize the dangers and consequences of providing a place for underage drinkers.

With risks such as drunken driving, alcohol poisoning and other alcohol-related injuries, alcohol and teens—an illegal combination— should not mix. 

From 2006 to 2008, 650 East County minors (age 20 and younger) were admitted to local emergency rooms for binge drinking or for being injured or poisoned while binge drinking according to the 2008-2010 Healthy Kids Survey.

Half of 15-year-olds in California who drink alcohol say they drink at their own home or at a friend’s house, according to the California Department of Alcohol Drug Programs.

Parents who may be thinking of hosting a “safe” party at home for your new graduate and his friends with some burgers and beers need to think again. Parents who host parties for underage drinkers run the risk of being fined, or assigned community service, or even jail time.

Studies show that house parties are the primary source of alcohol for underage drinkers. Despite the perception of a “safe,” supervised environment for youth to drink at home, more harm comes from illegal underage drinking than good.

Lowered academic performance, sexual assault, violence, personal injury or even death, are all possible consequences of underage drinking.  Additionally, “the earlier a young person is exposed to alcohol, the more likely they are to develop life-long drinking problems,” according to The ARCHS Institute.

The Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Department is actively enforcing the Social Host Ordinance, which makes it illegal for adults or minors to provide a place for youth under the age of 21 to drink.

Above and beyond the court fines, social host violators can, and will, be billed for all law enforcement and fire services required to respond to social host violations in the Lemon Grove area.

The Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Department plans to conduct enforcement operations on popular celebration days such as grad night. They also plan enforcement sweeps at least twice a week throughout the summer and through the Labor Day holiday.

Another topic of conversation among students is getting passports to enter Mexico to party.

 “I’ve actually heard of quite a few people who have said they are going to go down to Tijuana and rent a party bus    

A few years ago, teens crossing the border to party were commonplace.  Nearly 30 percent of pedestrians crossing the border from midnight to 4 a.m. were high school and university students, many of whom were underage. However, there has since been a reduction in alcohol-related activity, according to a 2008 Border Crossing project.

Since this time, there has been less teen border-crossing activity, mainly because of an increased perception of violence and the requirement for proper documentation at border crossing stations. ECYC students voiced concerns about kidnapping, crimes, or otherwise being stranded in Mexico.

Webster is concerned that even though fewer teens are crossing the border, all of the talk he is hearing around campus about his peers’ plans to head south may lead to risky behavior.

Despite a long-standing tradition to do something “crazy” for graduation, the social expectation to throw parties for teens needs to change. Parents need to understand the penalty for providing alcohol to underage drinkers is high. Additionally, they need to take responsibility to keep their children safe and help them make positive decisions, especially during this time of celebration and accomplishment.

Students at Monte Vista High School are planning to create posters and morning announcements to inform their peers of the dangers, laws and information around underage drinking during graduation season. ECYC members make a commitment to serving as good role models by abstaining from underage drinking, educating their peers and opting out of drinking parties.