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What’s New

Communities Talk What’s New articles share information to help event organizers plan, host, and evaluate events aimed at mobilizing a community around evidence-based prevention of underage drinking.

Substance Misuse During the Spring

05/09/2024

It’s the time of year for end-of-school celebrations and graduation parties, and parents and other caring adults need to know the social host laws or host party policies in their state.

Consider holding a Communities Talk event about the risks involved with hosting parties for anyone under 21. You can learn from what other communities have done by reading success stories. Here are a few examples:

  • After a death due to a drinking and driving accident that happened right after a graduation party, the Highland School District in Tieton, Washington, held a Communities Talk event to educate parents on how to host safe parties, especially if there isn’t close adult supervision. The presentations were delivered in Spanish, with translations offered to the English-speaking community members. Read their success story, No es usted, hasta que le sucede a usted (It’s not about you until it happens to you) to find out what they accomplished!
  • In the rural community of Hayden, Arizona, underage alcohol use was seen as a “rite of passage” and parents provided alcohol to teens at parties they hosted. To educate parents and youth about the harmful effects of this behavior, the Copper Corridor Coalition held a Communities Talk event that included discussions with an officer from the Arizona Liquor Licenses and Control Board. You’ll find out more about their event in their success story.

Learn more about social host liability and host party laws with these resources: