News Release                   For Immediate Release

April 16, 2004

Parents Who Host Lose The Most.

Don’t be a Party to Teenage Drinking.

Parents have the best of intentions when hosting a prom or graduation party in their child’s honour. However, hosting a party where alcohol is served is not a wise idea. Underage drinking parties are a health and safety problem with serious legal ramifications.  Parents who host lose the most.  Don’t be a party to teenage drinking.

The 2002 Grey Bruce Parent Norms Survey found that the majority of parents surveyed (60%) do not host teen drinking parties.  However, of that 60%, a real struggle was apparent, with some believing that hosting teen drinking parties sends the wrong message to their kids, and others feeling unsupported in that decision.  The same can be said for the 40% of parents who are hosting these types of parties.  Some believed they were minimizing risk by doing so, while others agreed to host teen drinking parties even though they felt that it was sending the wrong message to their teen. The Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign supports those 60% of parents in their decision not to host teen drinking parties, as well as educates the other 40% of parents who are hosting these parties.  The campaign uses factual information about the laws and legal liabilities that are involved in hosting teen drinking parties.

“Parents have the opportunity and responsibility to help Grey-Bruce youth reach their full potential.   I urge all parents to join in this campaign by encouraging your neighbours and friends to provide safe, healthy, alcohol-free entertainment opportunities,” says Linda Yenssen, Public Health Nurse.  Yenssen adds that parents who host parties with alcohol for teens should not view it as another ‘rite of passage’ to adulthood.  “This practice sends the message to youth that underage drinking is normal and accepted.”

The Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign begins in April and is locally funded by the Focus Project and the Sacred Heart & Walkerton District Addictive Substance Committee. For further information call Public Health at , ext. 231, or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.   Select “Alcohol & Substance Abuse”, then click on “Help for Parents.”

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Attachments:

News Feature: A Message to Parents

For more information:

Linda Yenssen

Public Health Nurse

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-881-1920, ext. 231