Any parent in Oak Park or River Forest thinking about allowing drinking by their kids and other students in their homes during homecoming weekend should reconsider, says Oak Park Township.
Officials at the Township Youth Services are encouraging parents to support a pledge not to allow underage drinking at social parties hosted in parents’ homes or any other location.
Officials at the township have taken out a full-page in Wednesday Journal, calling on parents not to serve alcohol to teens during Oak Park and River Forest High School’s homecoming weekend, Oct. 4.
The idea grew from talks among members of the OP-RF Youth Service Committee, said Clarmarie Keenan, a township trustee and committeeman. Keenan came up with the idea of the pledge after reading a newsletter from Niles Township earlier this year in which the mayor called for a similar pledge in his community.
Keenan said “social hosting parties” in parents’ homes where alcohol is provided to youth has been a problem in Oak Park and River Forest, though Oak Park police say it hasn’t been an issue for several years. But Keenan stressed that the reason some parents host them-that if kids are going to drink, they’d rather have it happen under their supervision-is not sound under any circumstances.
“It’s still illegal and not a good idea to send the message to kids that you can break the law in your own home,” Keenan said. “This is not about a glass of wine at Thanksgiving dinner. This is about a keg at an 18-year-old’s birthday party or a house party on the weekend.”
The ad will run in Wednesday Journal on Oct. 1, the edition before homecoming weekend. Keenan said the Youth Services Committee has, for some time, wrestled with how to address underage drinking at social hosting parties. One of the goals is to empower other parents to speak out against the practice.
“We would hope that adults help kids make good decisions by making good decisions themselves as adults,” she said.
The pledge could also take place in the future during OPRF’s prom, Keenan said. Oak Park Police Cmdr. Clemet Harbour said social hosting parties have not been a major problem for police lately, but it was some years ago, especially around prom time. He thinks attitudes have changed among parents and students.
“I’ve got 30 years on the job, and it was somewhat of a problem when I first started,” said Harbour. “Right around prom, there would be parties. I can’t say it’s the fault of the parents. You would have a kid throw a small party. The parents were away from the house and maybe 10 or 12 kids would be invited. The next thing you know, you have 50 to 60 kids, cars parked everywhere, then [neighbors] would call police.”
Harbour said if parents knew or hosted the party themselves, police at the time, and still today, would issue a citation to the adult and their teens. And parents are still responsible if a drunken teen harms or injures someone after leaving their parties.
“Maybe kids and parents are more accountable because both may end up in court,” he noted.