As an adult you know you did plenty of stupid things when you were a teen. Maybe that's why teen drinking is a growing problem. Maybe our guilt as parents prevents us from being too strict about teenage drinking. To add fuel to the fire, hundreds of times a day our children see and hear TV, radio and Internet messages that support and/or glamorize getting drunk. On TV when someone gets a raise they have a drink. When they finalize their divorce they have a drink. When they feel depressed they have a drink. When they need a few laughs they have a drink.

It's an uphill battle for parents that want their kids to avoid the downsides of alcohol abuse. But what the heck you say, it's just a "Right of passage." If you rationalize letting teens drink at your house because "At least they're not driving" then you're asking for more trouble than you can imagine. Teenage drinking is at epidemic levels and getting worse. Not just for teens that drink but for the parents that don't consider it a big deal.

Social host liability laws are now nationwide and the adults that let illegal teen drinking occur are going to make for some painful situations for their teens and their family.

Furthermore, the adults don't have to be home to be held liable. Every city may have its own set of social host laws. Regardless, nationwide, social host laws will hold adults accountable for teens drinking. Jail time, fines, community service, and plenty of embarrassment are a few of the consequences but the real consequence comes when there is some accident or assault that occurs. The consequences of that last one go on forever.

The fact is this. All states now have zero tolerance laws. That means if you are under the age of 21 and you get behind the wheel of a car you are breaking the law if there is any level of booze in your body. No exceptions. That means one drink, two, or three. Hard liquor or wine. It seems that if that officer smells a bottle cap's worth of moonshine on your breath that teen is going to be wearing silver bracelets right there."

If you're the kind of parent that likes to tie one on once in a while and don't see any harm in letting young adults experience the joys of booze then you need a little reality check. Teenager are getting killed far too often after a few drinks and a little time behind the wheel. But our teenagers don't necessarily suffer the consequences of poor choices all by themselves. They usually take a victim or two with them. This isn't moral preaching here, this is fact.

Let your teenagers drink and the likelihood of someone or something getting hurt goes way up. Could be a drunk-driving incident, could be alcohol abuse, could be sexual assault, and the list of wonderful side effects of being a little over-permissive go on and on.

Do a little homework in your neighborhood and check the local laws about social hosting. That's the law that holds parents accountable who provide the place for underage drinking and/or the alcohol. If you have teens or pre-teens this might be a good time to make sure you and your children's friend's parents are aware of their legal and responsibilities when it comes to teens that drink at home. Here are a few things you can do as a parent when your child is going to someone else's house for a party or just a little hang time.

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