Note from the County Attorney's Office

This letter is a joint communication from the school district, Brandon L. Jones, County Attorney, and Drug Free Osage County Inc.:

Dear Parents:
This letter is to encourage you not to let the celebration of a high school prom, graduation, or any other special event turn into a tragedy due to the use of alcohol. Students have reported that some parents and other adults are hosting private parties in homes, at the lakes, or other locations where alcohol will be provided.

You may have heard of the term “social hosting”. Social hosting is defined as providing and/or serving alcohol to a young person who is under the minimum legal drinking age. This can take place at a party or by any adult simply providing alcohol to young people and their peers for them to drink. It can even extend to homeowners who are not home, out-of-town, or unaware that underage drinking is taking place in their home. Unlawfully hosting minors who are consuming alcohol or cereal malt beverage is a Class A person misdemeanor, and carries a minimum fine of $1,000.

In addition if you host a party for underage drinkers, or allow your children to attend such parties, you are sending a message to teens that it is okay to break the law. You may think that you are doing teens a favor by allowing them to drink in a safe environment. The truth is, there is no safe environment for underage drinking. As a host, you can’t predict the behavior of teens drinking in your home, or the amount of alcohol consumed. If injuries, alcohol poisoning, or sexual assaults occur on your property, you can be held criminally liable. In addition, current research has shown that the human brain does not fully develop until about the age of 24. Individuals who drink at an early age not only risk harm to their brain development, but are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence. Teens who drink alcohol are also more likely to become sexually active, be involved in traffic accidents, use other drugs, and do poorly in school.

USD 420, in cooperation with the Osage County Attorney, and Drug Free Osage County, Inc., supports education and activities on drug and alcohol awareness. It takes the commitment of the community, families and schools to truly make a difference in creating a safe and healthy environment for our youth to live, learn, and grow into successful adults. Let’s work together to send a strong message to our youth that we care enough for them NOT to allow them to use alcohol or other drugs.