It’s not you: it’s them!
You’re not imagining it: kids really are going feral.
They’re doing worse stuff, and more of it.
And when they get caught, they’re blaming everyone except themselves.
Especially the hosts of the events they wreck.
And their parents believe every word.
So, if you plan to host a teen party, good luck.
Or, if you’d like to improve your odds of success (and survival), take some hard-earned advice.
Hard knocks
I’m in my 26th year of public safety. That’s 13 years with Victoria Police plus 13 years providing safety and security services to parties and events.
I know from long, hard experience that kids who stuff up at a party are far more likely to throw the host under a bus than admit their own fault.
Further, their parents believe them despite all evidence to the contrary.
Check these horror stories.
Cry wolf
At a party my company was securing, a young girl willingly left the premises with a young boy.
In so doing, she broke her curfew.
When her father found out, the girl lied … and cried rape.
In trying to save her own skin, she decided to put everyone through hell:
- The innocent young boy was interviewed at length by police.
- The host’s event was ruined and she was beside herself with anxiety.
- The furious father returned to the venue to vent his rage on my staff.
- A two-month police investigation, consuming scarce staff and resources, ended as a false report.
Nice.
Scull cave
Last weekend, one of my Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) staff was running my U-Nome bar system for an 18th birthday.
One boy, who’d originally been given permission to drink alcohol, was ‘cut off’ from this bar as he’d obviously had enough.
Undaunted, he got his mates to bring him more grog.
And though we had responsible parents helping us keep the peace, they weren’t up to the cunning moves of this highly motivated drunk.
He got his mates to mill together in a group while he secretly sculled the booze they’d brought.
This tactic was so successful, he nearly passed out.
And when that happened, he rang his mum and said … his drink was spiked.
On collecting her precious baby, the mother saw fit to accuse and abuse my staff member for this incident.
Even after my staff member patiently explained what had happened, the mother accorded zero responsibility to her coward son. Her child could do no wrong.
Once again, the hapless host, the other guests and the event suffered needlessly.
Solution
Today’s parties are becoming ‘weaponised’. You ignore this fact at your peril.
For every event I handle, I cover all legal aspects (e.g. alcohol secondary supply and duty of care).
I supply a legal document for hosts to post on social media. It covers the two scenarios I’ve described, plus many more.
In publicly flagging all potential issues, hosts reduce their risk. They not only do things by the book, but are seen to be doing so by guests, parents, venue owners and police.
Well-organised parties are less vulnerable to kids who can:
- Lie to your face without flinching.
- Drop you in the shit without thinking.
So, next time you’re planning a do, do the planning!
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Pic by Ed Devereaux
