As prom season approaches, parents are reminded of their responsibility to help keep teens safe and sober on this challenging night. They also need to know that they can be held accountable for giving alcohol to someone under 21.

In fact, adults face fines up to a $1,000 and six months in jail for providing minors with alcohol on prom night or any other night.

Gary Poedubicky of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety says "teens oftentimes have a sense of invincibility, which can lead to a fatal mistake of getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated."

"It is very important that parents communicate with their children about this time of year, to insure that their children are safe on prom and graduation night. To do that, we are reminding parents to take the time to talk with their children about the dangers of drinking alcohol and driving."

Matthew Rudd, of the Southwest Council, a group that works on preventing, educating and treating addiction in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, tells parents: "Your voice matters."

"Talking to your kids is still highly influential," he said.

"Introducing alcohol into the developing adolescent mind is not something that is healthy for them."

The group places anti-drinking message cars at tuxedo rental and flower shops.

"We have even gone so far as to do fake ID trainings in establishments that serve alcohol," he said. "We work with legislators on policy and helping to keep our community safe from a legislative standpoint."

Joe Cutter is the afternoon news anchor on New Jersey 101.5

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