Prepping your college kid for safe summer partying

As the spring term comes to a close, your college kid is undoubtedly looking forward to summer fun. This means vacations, graduation parties and weekend trips to numerous destination sites in Arizona. These social gatherings are likely to include alcohol consumption.

Now is the time to sit down with your adult child and review important information about drinking. Not only do you need to discuss how to prevent drunk driving, but you also need to talk about what to do during a police stop when drunk.

What to do to prevent drunk driving

The ideal situation would be for your son or daughter not to get into a drunk driving situation in the first place. College students are aware of the need for designated drivers, but what they may not know is that these drivers are often intoxicated, too.

The University of Florida in Gainesville published a study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs that found that 40 percent of designated drivers were not alcohol free. These statistics are especially relevant as the majority of the participants were white male college students. Tell your son or daughter to ensure the designated driver has completely abstained from drinking and not to drive with someone who has not.

What to do during a police stop

You should also prepare your child on what to do if the police pull him or her over on suspicion of drunk driving. Tips include:

• You do not have to reply to incriminating questions.
• You do not have to take a breathalyzer or field sobriety test, unless you are underage.
• You can ask to speak to a lawyer.
• You must take a blood alcohol test if the police ask you to or you will lose your license for a year.

Your college kid must also know the consequences of a DUI, especially if he or she is under 21. This may not only deter drunk driving but also serve as a reminder of the importance of calling an attorney if facing DUI charges.