Underage Drinking at the Prom

by: Mike Miller
5/25/2016

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know that I am a tireless supporter for education on underage drinking.  This is especially true this time of year.

Prom night is supposed to be one of the highlights of high school  It certainly was for me.  Unfortunately underage drinking not only ruins this night for many, it ruins their lives.  In an effort to combat underage drinking on this night, schools all over the country are putting on live performances showing the horrific impact of drinking and driving.

In an earlier blog entry I mentioned the school that used the Grim reaper as a prop, going in and selecting random students to come out and play the “victim” of a drunken driving accident.  I have noticed many high schools are using the Grim reaper for this purpose.

Drunken Driving Acted Out

DuPage County High School District in Lombard, Illinois is putting on “Operation Prom” a play about the dangers and effects of drinking  and driving – and the actors are students themselves.  This play includes the drunken students, the fiery car crash, the professional medical personnel and of course – the extremely emotional funeral.

Creative ideas like this and the Grim Reaper can have a profound impact on adolescents, especially when they happen right before the event. 

It may seem like teens will never listen, but that does not mean we should quit trying. The goal should always be 100% safety and zero lives lost. Certainly more alcohol education for teens can help.