This letter is being submitted to a variety of news outlets in response to recent coverage of a party in Weare, NH.

High school graduation should be a happy time and a time to celebrate the accomplishments of students. Unfortunately, pain and suffering too often accompanies graduation time.  In many cases, drugs and alcohol are involved.  The recent party in Weare underscores the challenges and concerns that confront students, parents, and law enforcement officials when alcohol is involved.

As students seek to celebrate the way they see others celebrate in the media, high school graduation can be a risky time.  Far from being a risk-free activity, underage drinking has the potential for significant economic, health, and social costs for youth, families, communities, and our state.

Alcohol directly impacts the part of the brain that controls reason, judgment and perception of risk.  A group of teens drinking at a party may make some of the worst decisions and do some of the stupidest things they will ever do in their lives.  Alcohol use often leads to unplanned or non-consensual sexual activity, injury, alcohol poisoning, and violent or destructive behavior.

In NH, alcohol consumption by those under 21 is illegal, even on private property.  And, it is illegal for the person in charge of the location to allow a party to continue if they know underage youth are drinking.  Many NH police departments receive specific training for breaking up underage drinking parties – allowing them to keep everyone safe in the process. 

Even the brightest, most responsible youth have brains that are not fully developed.  The rules and norms of society, thus, must act as frontal lobes for them, establishing policies and norms that protect them from dangerously impulsive behavior. 

We must all work together to reduce the availability of alcohol to underage drinkers, the occasions for underage drinking, and the demand for alcohol among youth – including at graduation parties.  If you would like to learn more about policy-focused approaches, please visit www.new-futures.org