Pssst Parents: Have Teens Sign the Promise Not to Drink and Drive

Hey parents, instead of saying: “Its a rite of passage” or “I did it when I was their age” or “Don’t they let kids have any fun anymore?”, try these prom/graduation/senior week conversation starters with your teens:

• “You don’t need to be drunk or high to have fun.”
• “I love you and want to see you enjoying the next phase in your life.”
• “It is your responsibility not to drive while under the influence.”
• “Drinking and driving is dumb. Don’t do it.”

So it is Prom Season, and Memorial Day and soon it will be Graduation and Senior Week. These are all times when teens might be tempted to drink or get high and then—get behind the wheel. 

Nobody ever wants to get that 2 a.m. phone call from police: “Your child has been in an accident…”.

But can a conversation prevent drunk driving from happening? Maybe. Probably. Yes it can.

The volunteers from the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department have seen their share of grisly accidents, including those involving teens, and unfortunately on occasions like prom and graduation. They are asking schools to start a life-saving tradition with teens, and encouraging parents, family, coaches and friends to do it too.

It’s called the “Prom Promise” and it is a kind of contract where teens commit not to drink and drive. The officers and members of the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department do not want to be busy with calls on prom night.

The volunteers there are telling teens: “Remember to sign the prom promise and DO NOT DRINK on this special day. You do not want to meet us this prom season.”

To showcase why they don’t want to see you, they gathered photos from recent car crashes to illustrate their point. The photos accompany this story.

“We do not want this to be you!”

Here is the prom promise. If there is a teen in your life, have the conversation, then sign the promise. Click for PDF of Prom Promise.

================PROM PROMISE==========================

Date: ____________________

Prom Promise: 

I, _______________________ (student name) hereby promise to behave responsibly before, during and after the South River High School Prom.

I commit to an alcohol- and drug-free prom night because I care about my fellow students, my community, my family and myself.

I WANT TO LIVE. I want to laugh, listen to great music and dance.

I want to have an absolutely great time at prom. The day after, I will relive it, hour by hour, with my friends.

I want to remember it. All of it.

I will not use alcohol at prom.

Signed by: _______________________ (student signature)

Witness: _______________________ (signature of: parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, brother, sister, guidance counselor, principal, teacher, administrator, coach, assistant coach, tutor, mentor or friend).