Parents from the Coalition's Parents Who Host Committee gathered  on April 16th at the Birmingham Community House to stuff and mail nearly 5,000 letters signed by the local police chiefs and addressed to parents of all high school juniors and seniors in the Birmingham Bloomfield public schools as well as Marian, Brother Rice, International Academy, Roeper, Academy of the Sacred Heart, Detroit Country Day and Cranbrook.

Michelle Saroki, a parent of an Academy of the Sacred Heart student, said that during the upcoming prom and graduation season, parents are appreciative of any information or tool to help discuss alcohol with teenagers. "A letter from the police department helps to cement the facts a spread awareness in our community. The more education we can make available for parents and their teenagers, the better," said Saroki

The letters were mailed in police department envelopes."I would like to emphasize that law enforcement is counting on parents to do their job and not encourage, or turn a blind eye to underage drinking parties," explained Bloomfield Township Police Chief Kirt Bowden. "Besides being illegal, hosting an underage drinking party opens you up to civil litigation if anything goes awry at the event. Underage drinkers are apt to make poor decisions that can affect the rest of their young lives...they need the guidance of responsible parents," Chief Bowden concluded.

   The letter reminded parents that:

- Alcohol consumed or possessed by persons under the age of 21 is against the law.
- It is against the law to furnish alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 years, or knowingly allow the consumption or possession of alcohol by a minor.
- The parent or other person who knowingly allows or furnishes alcohol or illegal drugs at their home, a rented room or a limousine or any other location where young people under the age of 21 congregate, is guilty of breaking the law and may be convicted of a misdemeanor.

    A Family Guide for Teen Parties was enclosed with each letter.  It included advice for parents when their teens attend parties:

- Know where your teen will be.  Get the address and phone number.   Let your teen know that you expect a call if the location changes.
- Contact the parents of the party-giver in order to:  verify the occasion and offer to help; make sure that a parent will be present and will be monitoring activities; and be sure that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs will not be present.
- Know how your teen will get home from the party.  Make sure they have phone numbers of people they can call.  Make sure you know how to reach them.
- Discuss with your teen how to handle a situation where alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs are available at the party.  Let your teen know what YOU expect.  Devise a "code word or phrase" for th eteen to use to exit the party gracefully.  This code phrase, such as, "How is Cousin..?" tells you that your teen wants to leave the party early and is asking you to come and get them.
- Make sure your teen knows what time to be home.  Be aware when your teen arrives home.  Recognize compliance with curfews and enforce consequences if necessary.  Have a brief conversation to assess your teen's condition.
- If your teen wants to stay overnight with a friend after the party...Verify with the friend's parents that they know about the invitation and approve.  Confirm that the friend's parents will be home and awake when the teens get to their home after the party.
    If you would like more information about this campaign, please contact the Coalition office at 248/203-4615 or Coalition Community Relations Coordinator, Lori Rondello at lrondello@bbcoalition.org.

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