CONFUSED about your rights and obligations as a parent at a teenage party?

An evening seminar at Macintyre High School will put you on the straight and narrow on Wednesday, April 12.

'Getting your head around teenage parties' will educate teenagers and their parents about the dos and don'ts of alcohol and drugs at social gatherings.

Recently teenage alcohol consumption has become a contentious issue in the New England.

But the seminar was planned well before the Inverell Alcohol Forum in March and the launch of the rural alcohol study by the University of NSW's Dr Anthony Shakeshaft.

Macintyre High School teacher Pam Murphy initiated the seminar after hearing of a similar night held at Duval High School, Armidale, in 2005.

She believed the information distributed in Armidale would also be relevant to Inverell.

During the free night parents will learn basic drug and alcohol information, legal responsibilities of supplying alcohol to minors and how to deal with gate-crashers.

Inverell Community Health's Tania Mills said parents would be given a party information pack to take home and a practical example of how to host a safe party.

"People keep saying gate-crashing happens in the city and that it doesn't happen in country areas," Ms Mills said.

"But it's fast becoming an issue for our area."

Inverell Police have been invited to the night to reassure parents are not alone in their struggle to control teenage drinking habits.

"Hopefully there will be a police presence so they can see there's a safety net and they're not alone if all the wheels fall off during a party," Ms Mills said.

She said local community and government groups would attend the seminar to make sure parents knew there were avenues to take should their teen's drug and alcohol addiction become an ongoing problem.

The night will be free with refreshments on the house and giveaways available.

If attending please RSVP to Macintyre High School to help with free catering by the school's P and C.

Mrangalli has arranged a free bus to run to and from the seminar from Tingha and Inverell Police Senior Constable Scott Chester has organised a free bus to and from Delungra.

* To reserve seats on the Tingha bus call Tania Mills on (02)6721 9600 or to reserve a seat on the Delungra bus call Scott Chester on (02)6724 8244.

© 2006 Inverell Times

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