While Western Australia is in election mode, teen parties continue to cause havoc in the community – creating nights more terrifying than any Halloween.
Yet this horror is well within our power to control.
An ounce of prevention …
I’ve always believed a proactive, preventative solution is far better than a passive reaction.
To this end, my proactive legislative solution will ensure parents have the right plans in place, i.e.:
- Ensure each venue is safe and suitable for a party.
- Notify police in advance.
- Have a ratio of 1 responsible adult to every 20 kids.
- Ensure professional security staff are in place. By this, I don’t mean Uncle Bert or some steroid pumping neighbour with a security licence. I mean an expert company with professional liability cover.
- Ensure all alcohol is managed.
Most teen parties featured in the media have come unstuck due to alcohol being brought onto the property and not managed.
While gatecrashers definitely play a part in causing mayhem, parties with no alcohol control are doomed before they even start.
The bottom line is that no plan invariably equals disaster.
If we fail to control alcohol, the mess these parties make will go on and on – and escalate.
Unless we do something about it.
Permission to party
If more parents were made aware of the links described above, and the reasons for having a party permit system, I believe they’d understand and support the need to apply for a permit to plan, hold and manage these events.
After all, what caring, reasonable parent would not want to ensure their child (and every teen guest) is safe within their party?!
And what kind of parent would not want these children to get home safely after their event?
So that’s the carrot.
Now for the stick.
Courting disaster
If parents aren’t motivated by love, perhaps they’ll respond to fear.
According to this court ruling, parents have been warned they’re at risk of legal action if they fail to properly supervise other people’s children.
This could easily relate to teen parties.
Think about this for a second …
Are you prepared to take such an enormous risk for the sake of your event?
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
