How to Keep Teens From Drinking at an All Ages Party

You've seen the coming-of-age movies like "The Party Never Stops," "American Pie," or maybe when you were a kid it was "Grease." Television talks shows like Oprah and Dr. Phil spend hours discussing the ritual and reasons. No matter where you go, you are confronted with the topic of children and teenagers drinking alcohol.

So, how do you host an "all ages" party where alcohol is to be served, without opening the liquor cabinet to your children?

There is a way to achieve that balance, and here are a few tricks and controls to put into place so that you, your teens and your guests may enjoy the festivities.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make the rules known before the party starts. Talk to your own children about drinking and serving other kids alcohol. Also, make sure your guests are aware that alcohol is going to be served and that other children will present.

2. Keep your alcoholic beverage table away from common food and drink areas. If the bar table is across the room from the rest of the refreshments, children and teens may be less tempted to sneak a drink.

3. Have a bartender. You don't have to spend a lot or any money to have a bartender at your party. If your party is a small affair, ask other parents and adults to take shifts at the bar table.

4. Post a flyer at the entrance and at the bar table. A flyer stating "Underage drinking will not be tolerated" is a great deflector of teen disobedience because it should embarrass teens who are sneaking up near the bar.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you have plenty of cool teen drinks on hand. Keep your eyes on what the teens are doing and where. Have activities for teens to do--less boredom means less trouble.
• Never allow any teen to even "taste" alcohol at your party -- permission from parents does not make you less liable.