Burning down the house
Note: Your next party may cost millions for the guest you failed to protect.
This will take away more than just your home: it’ll obliterate everything you’ve worked for.
Read this to see why.
Sad facts
Tragically, I’m not surprised by this news.
Bigger parties. More injuries. Increased litigation. As surely as we follow the USA in many things, this is a clear trend.
The question is, will you be the next host sued by the grieving parent of a shattered child?
I don’t let my kids attend a party unless the correct planning and supervision are in place.
Like other parents, when I do give permission, I entrust the event’s host to supervise my children properly.
Bad cop
Being a responsible host does NOT mean you can:
- Lock yourself in a room.
- Get drunk and have your own party.
- Go elsewhere with other adults and let the kids go for it.
A host is liable for everything that happens at the event.
Whether it’s in your home or at a hired venue.
You can’t even handball all responsibility to the hired help (e.g. security or caterers).
In short, you’re it.
Now for the good news
There’s no need to have a party larger than 100 guests for your child. It’s not a popularity contest. Or an arms race. Even if it were, why follow the herd to your ruin?
A party is about celebrating a significant event safely. Kids may have hundreds of ‘friends’ on Facebook. But do they really know more than 100 people?
I often supervise ‘mega’ parties at which the birthday teen doesn’t even know the last name of their ‘guests’ – let alone how they may act when boozed up at a bonfire.
Good cop
A host must ensure all alcohol (BYO and supplied) is managed/served responsibly.
When it comes to grog, young adults have no idea of their limits. This is why you need a secure bar area with a qualified person managing it.
Hosting also means having enough in your budget to hire professional security. Professional security firms have proper insurance and their staff are all First Aid Level 2 qualified.
If, however, you try to use family as de-facto security, they may end up like this.
And you’ll be forever haunted by your poor decision.
Future tense
Big teen parties are well and truly a ‘thing’. Increased litigation will follow.
Your challenge is to be wiser than the unknown kids who’ll otherwise run amok on your property – literally threatening life and limb.
You needn’t even have a party for your loved one.
How about sending your birthday teen to the movies with a group of real, actual friends?
They’ll likely have much more fun – and all get home in one piece.
Best of all,
it won’t cost you the earth.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Pic by Ada Be
Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adambelles/