In an effort to keep teens safe during this year’s prom and graduation season, Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy is looking to combat underage drinking parties by implementing a new initiative called “Operation Hotel Check Out.” The program was created to alert hotel and motel owners and managers to prescreen reservations for underage bookings.

According to Murphy, teens are not partying outside and in their parents’ basements as much as they used to, but rather in hotel and motel rooms thanks to credit cards and large sums of money that have become more readily available to them. The safety and health of a teen, along with damage to rooms and discomfort to other guests staying at the hotel are just a few of the consequences associated with underage drinking in hotel and motel rooms, Murphy said.

“Operation Hotel Check Out” is just one example of a county-wide effort that parents, schools, drug abuse centers and law enforcement agencies are implementing during this year’s prom season. Schools throughout Saratoga County will do their part by creating after-prom parties in an attempt to give teens safe alternatives to celebrating. Law enforcement agencies will step up their efforts to prevent underage drinking by implementing six waves of stings aimed at 120 convenient stores, liquor stores and bars throughout the county.

“Parents, police, schools and area businesses all need to work together in order to thwart underage drinking during this year’s prom season,” Murphy said.

The Prevention Council of Saratoga County is also taking part in the effort by implementing initiatives to inform students and parents to the dangers of underage drinking.

Judy Ekman, Executive Director of The Prevention Council of Saratoga County, said the council has been running a program for the past 26 years titled “Safe Spring.” The program works with local SADD chapters and school districts to promote after-prom functions. It also asks students to commit to not drinking on their prom night by offering a “Prom Promise.”

In addition to their “Safe Spring” program, The Prevention Council has developed booklets aimed at educating parents and other adults about how youth get alcohol and the active role adults can play in helping to discourage and prevent underage drinking.

“This is just one little piece toward providing an environment to discourage underage drinking,” Ekman said.

This year the Prevention Council is one of 10 agencies state-wide selected to participate in the New York State Underage Drinking—Not a Minor Problem media awareness campaign developed by the New York State Office of Alcoholism. The campaign is aimed at raising awareness to the serious consequences of drinking and delivers prevention messages to both youth and adults.

The Prevention Council has been working with Albany Broadcasting to develop radio spots featuring the voices of local youth for the campaign. Statements collected from 25 high school students from throughout the county giving reasons to “celebrate safely” will be combined into ads that will air on FLY 92 throughout the prom and graduation season.

“By creating the radio ads we are trying to use a vehicle that young people pay attention to,” said Robin Lyle, Community Mobilization Specialist at The Prevention Council of Saratoga County. “If they hear that other students are celebrating safely then that might influence others to do the same.”

Although it is important to ensure the safety of Saratoga County during this year’s prom season, Lyle said that it is also important to remember that everyone throughout Saratoga County needs to work together to ensure the whole community continues to keep itself and its teens safe from underage drinking year-round.

To learn more about the dangers of underage drinking, visit The Prevention Center of Saratoga County’s website at: http://www.preventioncouncil.org/

High School Proms in Saratoga County

School – Date (Prom/After prom)

Ballston Spa – June 13 (Hall of Springs/Ballston Spa High School)

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake – May 16 (Hall of Springs/Bayou Café 12:30-3:30 a.m.)

Corinth – April 26 (Saratoga National Golf course/Elks Lodge in Saratoga followed by breakfast at Corinth Fire Dept. followed by Fun Spot in Lake George

Galway – May 2 (Glen Sanders Mansion/Galway High School)

Hadley-Luzerne – May 3 (Hadley Luzerne High School to Echo Lake Lodge, Warrensburg/Hadley-Luzerne High School)

Mechanicville – May 9 (Glen Sanders Mansion)

Saratoga Central Catholic – May 31 (Queensbury Hotel)

Saratoga Springs – May 17 (Saratoga Springs City Center/Saratoga Springs High School)

Schuylerville – May 17 (Van Patten Country Club VISTA/Adventure Racing)

Shenendehowa Junior Prom – April 26 (Albany Marriott/Northern Lights)

Shenendehowa Senior Ball – May 17 (Albany Crowne Plaza/Northern Lights)

South Glens Falls Prom – May 10 (Boat on Lake George/no after prom)

South Glens Falls Senior Dinner – May 23

Stillwater – May 30 (Riverstone Manor, Glenville/no after prom)

Waterford/Halfmoon – May 9 (Fairways of Halfmoon/no afterprom)

High School Graduations in Saratoga County

School - Graduation Date (Locale)

Ballston Spa – June 25 (Saratoga Performing Arts Center)

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake – June 25 (SPAC)

Corinth – June 27 (Corinth High School)

Galway – June 28 (Galway High School)

Hadley-Luzerne – June 28 (Hadley-Luzerne High School)

Mechanicville – June 28 (Mechanicville High School)

Saratoga Catholic – June 6 (St. Clements)

Saratoga Springs – June 26 (SPAC)

Schuylerville – June 28 (Saratoga Springs City Center)

Shenendehowa – June 26 (SPAC)

South Glens Falls – June 28 (Glens Falls Civic Center)

Stillwater – June 28 (Stillwater High School)

Waterford/Halfmoon – June 28 (Waterford/Halfmoon High School)