As a parent I no longer consume alcohol in front of my kids. I don’t want them to think that a good time is only had with a sip of booze. Australia has a massive drinking culture problem. Whilst conducting teen party seminars at schools I ask the teens the question as to how many…
Here’s a lovely article that I read with interest, then dismay: Drunk callouts swamp ambos. Did you know that Western Australia’s stretched ambulance crews are treating ten drunks a day?! I find this and other figures sobering. What a pity other people don’t! Lie of the land In WA, more than seven teenagers a week…
As I continue to lobby government stakeholders in relation to safe teen parties, yet more tragedy unfolds. Another young life wasted. A death that could have been avoided. Alcohol-related trauma is one of the biggest issues at teen events. My submission takes a holistic approach to its resolution. Sadly, it looks like it’s going to…
In recent weeks, my security industry contacts have reported an alarming trend. A growing number of parents are leaving their children at home while they go on holiday. Why? Because they think that if their kids have a party while they’re away, they won’t know about it. And if they don’t know about it, they…
The things people say! Here are things parents commonly say before a teen party. Along with the reality. ‘We know them; they’re all nice boys.’ Then they drink. ‘The kids will be okay in the pool while they drink.’ Then we have two broken noses and a brawl at the end of the night. ‘Our…
I’ve taken security briefs for hundreds of teen events. There’s a moment at which I know I’m dealing with parents who are weak, stupid or both. Here’s how it goes. Happy families Parents ask me to visit their property to discuss safety and security measures. Their teenager is often present. It all starts well as…
Even when I warned him his party would spiral out of control, a Wheelers Hill kid ignored my advice and held a party last weekend. As I predicted, it turned ugly. And the emergency services response cost tax payers (you and me) a small fortune. Words of warning The boy rang me last Thursday to…
We hear a lot about ‘senseless violence’. But when kids get injured at parties, it’s not the violence that’s senseless. It’s the parents. With prior planning, parties needn’t suffer any violence. To me, ‘senseless’ is someone stabbing you in the street. Car accidents aren’t senseless. Most are due to speed, alcohol, fatigue or other driver…
16-year-old Sophie* attends a gathering at a friend’s house at 4 pm. Sophie drinks a bottle of vodka while the host parents party elsewhere on the property – not caring what’s happening in their home. Sophie passes out. Her eyes roll back. Her breathing becomes laboured. Her friends become distressed and wonder if they should…
Nasty Surprise After my recent one-hour interview with the Member for Doncaster, Mary Wooldridge, it was discovered that the secondary supply law due to come into effect in Feb 2012 will NOT include BYO alcohol at teen parties. In my experience of planning and protecting 700 teen events, most problems have been with drinks brought…