Graduation safety

Several high school commencements have already been held across Southeast Missouri, and others are scheduled over the next few days. With these special milestones come parties, as befits the occasion. For most, these after-graduation parties will create even more good memories that will last a lifetime.

But some parties for celebrating teenagers also involve alcohol. Headlines from years past tell the grim stories of young revelers who had too much to drink and wound up as highway accident and fatality statistics.

In some of these awful tragedies, the source of the illicit beverages was parents who purchased beer and other alcohol for the underage party-goers.

That's not the way we would like to remember someone's graduation from high school. Instead, we would like to see adults exercise their parental responsibilities, which includes making sure both teens and grown-ups abide by laws intended to protect them.

Some high schools have all-night events following graduation that restrict partying graduates and keep them busy with activities, food and beverages suitable for such occasions. Hats off to those who work hard to make graduation night safe. Let's hope this year that parents and their high school graduates will do the right thing.