Alcohol is flooding our health system
January 27, 2013 at 12:07 am | Posted in Security | 2 CommentsTags: alcohol, BYO, child, death, drinking, duty of care, event, hospital, injury, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, parent, party, prevention, safe parties, secondary supply, teen, teenage, teenager, tragedy, U-NOME Security, youth
WA’s new party laws won’t prevent this.
Here’s a lovely article that I read with interest, then dismay: Drunk callouts swamp ambos.
Did you know that Western Australia’s stretched ambulance crews are treating ten drunks a day?!
I find this and other figures sobering.
What a pity other people don’t!
Lie of the land
In WA, more than seven teenagers a week are taken to hospital for intoxication.
Unfortunately, the State’s new reactive party legislation will not prevent alcohol abuse at teen and young adult events.
Whether these parties have supplied or BYO alcohol, it must be managed and served properly.
The only way parents can ensure this is to have an alcohol management plan that includes Responsible Serving of Alcohol.
If they don’t, more and more children will be carted off to hospital – or worse.
Shame game
Parents who collect their intoxicated son or daughter from a party should ask (or be asked) a serious question:
How did they allow this to happen to their child?
I have first-hand experience of parents who’ve:
- Picked up their unconscious child from a party.
- Detoured to a hospital to get their kid’s stomach pumped.
- Collected a kid from hospital who was rushed by ambulance from a party.
- Sent the party host the ambulance and/or hospital bill!
Seriously: does this look like a recipe for ‘good times’ to you?
Parental guidance
It’s really quite simple: adults hosting events must be made accountable
Until we have a party management system that requires parents to apply for a permit that ensures they fully discharge their duty of care, kids will continue to end up in hospitals.
And coffins.
So what will it take?
Must we wait until your family is torn apart by (totally preventable) injury and loss?
The answer is right in front of you.
Please read this and think about it!
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Pull the plug on energy drinks!
June 8, 2012 at 10:17 pm | Posted in Security | Leave a commentTags: alcohol, bottle, drinking, duty of care, energy drink, injury, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, parent, party, safe parties, secondary supply, teen, teenage, teenager, tragedy, U-NOME Security, youth
We must stop playing with fire.
As I continue to lobby government stakeholders in relation to safe teen parties, yet more tragedy unfolds.
Another young life wasted. A death that could have been avoided.
Alcohol-related trauma is one of the biggest issues at teen events. My submission takes a holistic approach to its resolution.
Sadly, it looks like it’s going to take many more deaths (or perhaps the death of a politician’s child?) for any serious legislative change to take place.
At the very least, we can introduce an amendment to the Victorian Government’s new Secondary Supply Legislation.
For instance, if we could:
- include bring your own (BYO) alcohol;
- underline the duty of care of hosts; and
- stress the responsible serving of alcohol,
I’m certain this would dramatically reduce the carnage we see each weekend.
Most of the parties I’ve planned and managed over the years are BYO events. The breakdown of alcohol brought into venues (chiefly homes and halls) is as follows:
- 40% pre-mixed (either commercially packaged booze or home-made hooch like cider bombs).
- 30% beer and wine (bottle and cask).
- 30% energy drinks (either mixed with grog or on their own).
My staff and I manage energy drinks the same as alcohol because we’ve witnessed first-hand how they can dramatically change people and even risk life.
We ensure that all drinks brought into an event are labelled and managed correctly by responsible adults.
That’s the proper execution of the duty of care parents have to kids coming to a party they’ve organised.
Anything less is a recipe for chaos, property damage, personal injury, expensive litigation … and death.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Folks away? Kids will play!
April 29, 2012 at 11:45 pm | Posted in Security | Leave a commentTags: child, duty of care, kid, Naomi Oakley, parent, party, safe parties, secondary supply, security, teen, U-NOME Security
What you don't know CAN hurt you!
In recent weeks, my security industry contacts have reported an alarming trend.
A growing number of parents are leaving their children at home while they go on holiday.
Why? Because they think that if their kids have a party while they’re away, they won’t know about it.
And if they don’t know about it, they won’t be responsible for any party-related catastrophes.
Can you believe this line of thinking?!
It’s quite likely parents are choosing this crazy strategy because of the new secondary supply legislation and its legal implications.
It’s a very nasty double-edged sword:
- First, today’s parents aren’t willing to provide boundaries for their kids.
- Second, they’re scared and unsure about controlling alcohol that’s brought onto their property.
A deadly combination.
For two years I’ve been lobbying state governments to create smart, effective safe party laws.
Neighbours are fed up with riots, emergency services have better things to do than chase drunks and we need to ensure our kids get home safely from poorly managed events.
It’s time to step up and stem the rising tide of damage, injury and deaths.
Kids do not arrive on this planet by stork or basket.
Parents must be made accountable and must take charge.
Click here to learn more.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Who pays the mortgage?
April 26, 2012 at 12:32 am | Posted in Security | 1 CommentTags: alcohol, child, crowd control, death, drinking, duty of care, event, fight, injury, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, neighbour, parent, party, police, prevention, safe parties, secondary supply, security, teen, teenage, teenager, U-NOME Security, violence, youth
Truth is far worse than fiction.
The things people say!
Here are things parents commonly say before a teen party.
Along with the reality.
‘We know them; they’re all nice boys.’
Then they drink.
‘The kids will be okay in the pool while they drink.’
Then we have two broken noses and a brawl at the end of the night.
‘Our balcony will be fine for this party of 100.’
No it won’t.
‘We’ve had a stern talk to our son and he said they won’t drink much.’
Yes they will.
‘Our son thinks we don’t need security.’
Yes you do.
‘Our daughter doesn’t want the drinks managed.’
When we find two half-naked girls passed out behind the property, we call an ambulance.
‘They’re a quiet bunch.’
No they’re not.
‘They’ve promised to keep the guest list to 100.’
150 patrons later, two guests have been hit, security staff have been injured, the police are outnumbered and we need back up. Fast.
‘Do we really need to cloak bags?’
Once we start finding hidden drugs and booze, they get the picture.
Take out
This message is about keeping our teens alive.
Parents, having a party isn’t just about you and your child.
It’s about:
- Duty of care to guests.
- Responsible alcohol serving and management.
- Keeping parties safe for any staff attending.
- Looking after your neighbours.
- Ensuring kids leave your home (and get to theirs) safely.
If you don’t want to do this right or you can’t make the tough decisions to make it happen,
DON’T HAVE A PARTY!
Or the next teen death may be on you.
Parents must be made accountable.
We need legislative change.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
As thick as two parents
January 17, 2012 at 3:29 am | Posted in Security | 5 CommentsTags: alcohol, crowd control, duty of care, event, fight, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, parent, party, Party Plan Checklist, police, prevention, safe parties, secondary supply, security, teen, teenage, teenager, U-NOME Security, venue, violence
Are you really that dumb?
I’ve taken security briefs for hundreds of teen events.
There’s a moment at which I know I’m dealing with parents who are weak, stupid or both.
Here’s how it goes.
Happy families
Parents ask me to visit their property to discuss safety and security measures. Their teenager is often present.
It all starts well as I walk them through my checklist:
- Physical issues of the venue.
- Guest list management.
- Food.
- Police notification.
Everyone’s smiling and supportive.
Until we reach the topic of alcohol.
Cracking the sads
While vocally supporting my alcohol recommendations, the parent’s (hitherto constant) nodding becomes irregular.
The teen breaks eye contact with me and starts glaring at her parents – trying to get their attention.
I describe the best way to provide duty of care to guests: by labelling all alcohol for responsible adults to monitor and control.
The teen becomes sullen, acquires the “cat’s bum look” and stares fiercely at the floor with arms crossed.
I leave the home knowing that at this party, the tail will wag the dog.
NOT a good thing!
Ruining the roost
Within two days, the parents backflip and decide to follow their child’s wise alcohol recommendation: to let all kids bring and drink all they want.
From this moment, the party is doomed.
All that remains is for me, my staff (and perhaps the media) to witness the carnage.
Here’s a breakdown of a recent breakdown. This account is true (and indicative of dozens more).
Countdown to destruction
Guests bring vast amounts of alcohol. Parents are amazed at how much is coming onto their property. (REALLY!)
At about 11 pm, teens start to stagger round the grounds.
A few fall face-first into dog crap.
More start spewing party pies and fairy bread (in that order).
By the time my team and I take control, we have ten teenagers in a room hugging buckets and throwing up.
The parents actually think it’s … FUNNY. That emptying buckets of vomit is laughable. A reaction which, being a parent myself, is beyond my comprehension.
Towards night’s end, kids get abusive and want to fight us, the parents and each other.
At this point, the hosts demand that we risk injury by throwing out the very guests they’ve let get intoxicated; even if it means they may not make it home. Kids walking home from parties is another whole (horrific) post.
I find it tragic that parents who refuse to control alcohol or show duty of care also shirk their responsibilities when things turn ugly.
Rewind
This entire situation can be avoided if parents get some backbone and stop trying to be their teen’s best friend.
It really isn’t rocket science:
- Their house.
- Their mortgage.
- Their rules!
I’m sure if the Coroner called you to explain why you let a teen get so drunk that she choked on her own vomit or died crossing the road, you’d wish you’d listened to me.
My advice isn’t designed to annoy people.
It’s to ensure parties are safe.
Duty of care is your responsibility.
The police can’t help you, as the new minor supply laws don’t cover BYO grog.
So parents,
GROW UP!
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Your taxes at work
September 19, 2011 at 4:18 am | Posted in Security | Leave a commentTags: alcohol, car, child, crowd control, drinking, duty of care, event, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, neighbour, nightmare, parent, party, police, safe parties, secondary supply, security, teen, teenage, teenager, U-NOME Security, venue, youth
This latest party fiasco cost us $5K. Are you having fun yet?
Even when I warned him his party would spiral out of control, a Wheelers Hill kid ignored my advice and held a party last weekend.
As I predicted, it turned ugly. And the emergency services response cost tax payers (you and me) a small fortune.
Words of warning
The boy rang me last Thursday to say he needed security at a basketball party.
I asked a few questions and he said:
- There’d be 150 kids aged 16-18.
- They’d be free to bring alcohol.
- There’d be only one parent present.
I advised him that:
- He’d need four professional staff to keep control.
- He’d also need at least six parents to assist.
- Alcohol would have to be controlled at a central point.
- If he didn’t follow my recommendations, his night would be a nightmare.
The boy seemed surprised.
And didn’t call back.
Storm clouds
I knew this event would go pear-shaped. I informed Glen Waverley Police so they’d at least have some detail on the party when they inevitably responded. Cops HATE flying blind.
Despite giving them this heads up, I still couldn’t relax on the day.
Instead of spending a pleasant Saturday night at home with my family, I felt compelled to observe how this party would unravel.
Fortunately, I was supported by one of my staff who’s similarly ardent about safe teen parties.
We arrived at the boy’s home at 9 pm and were seriously shocked.
The entire property was teeming with teens: at least 170 in the house plus another 100 milling around out the front.
A neighbour was screaming as kids jumped his fence.
Every few minutes, maxi cabs disgorged more kids, while larger groups arrived from the bus stop.
All were carrying beer slabs, massive wine casks and/or bags of pre-mixed drinks.
I thought of their parents. Had ANY asked what sort of party their offspring were attending, or whether there’d be any responsible adults around?
Hell’s teeth
Amid the chaos, I saw only one security person on the front gate. I couldn’t tell if they were professional (trained, safe, insured) or amateur (volatile, dangerous, not liable).
With the frantic neighbour now on the phone, I figured the Police would arrive any minute.
When the first van arrived, the scene was daunting indeed for the two members inside.
Utterly outnumbered, they cautiously emerged clutching their flasks of capsicum spray.
Fearing for them, I let them know my colleague and I were around.
The sole parent was out the front – bawling at the cops to get everyone out.
While they liaised with him, the kids streamed over the road, taking photos next to the Police car as if it were a trophy!
After a very long ten minutes, much-needed back up arrived:
- 6 more Police vans.
- 2 Dog Squad units.
- 1 large brawler van.
It took all this to stop the music and shut the nightmare down.
How there wasn’t a death or serious injury is beyond my comprehension.
Now hear this
Parents MUST get this message before more kids (maybe theirs) die:
There are NO EXCUSES.
You can’t PLEAD IGNORANCE any more.
Do NOT let your child plan a party.
YOU do it.
YOU take responsibility.
The sooner we have teen event legislation, the better.
And don’t think the new minors and alcohol legislation that comes into effect in Feb will save us. It won’t.
Because it doesn’t cover BYO events like this.
Parent’s MUST be made accountable.
It’s YOUR money, Ralph!
At a very conservative estimate, the Police response to this event cost $5000.
Worse, these precious resources were diverted from serious, legitimate crime prevention at the busiest time of the week.
All neighbouring suburbs were stripped of their ability to respond.
Tough luck if YOU needed a divvy van to catch that burglar you heard on Saturday!
You and I are paying for this shameful waste with our taxes.
We’re paying more and getting less.
So, if you can’t do the right thing your kids,
at least do it for yourself!
PS. I got some excellent video footage of this debacle, if you’re interested.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Violence ain’t ‘senseless’
August 29, 2011 at 5:40 am | Posted in Security | Leave a commentTags: accident, alcohol, child, crowd control, death, drinking, duty of care, event, injury, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, neighbour, Party Plan Checklist, police, safe parties, secondary supply, security, teen, teenager, U-NOME Security, venue, violence, youth
When it comes to teen party violence, parents are the real clowns.
We hear a lot about ‘senseless violence’.
But when kids get injured at parties, it’s not the violence that’s senseless.
It’s the parents.
With prior planning, parties needn’t suffer any violence.
To me, ‘senseless’ is someone stabbing you in the street.
Car accidents aren’t senseless. Most are due to speed, alcohol, fatigue or other driver error.
The following situations recently came to my attention. All have been called ‘senseless’, when really they’re not.
Birthday bash
An 18-year-old’s parents didn’t want to control alcohol at his birthday party.
They wanted the kids to ‘have fun’.
So they confined their attentions to the front of their home.
Meanwhile, out of sight in a back bedroom, their dear son had sex with a minor.
This boy faces a life-ruining conviction and placement on the sex offender register.
All because his parents didn’t want to set boundaries.
What FUN!
Making sense
A grieving mother, whose son was fatally stabbed outside a party, has asked a judge to send a hard message about the deadly consequences of ‘senseless violence’.
I’m told alcohol wasn’t restricted at this event. Had an alcohol plan been in place, this situation may well have ended differently.
A life could have been saved and a boy prevented from going to jail.
I believe most parents who read this article will think the teen stupid for drinking so much. But what about the parents who let it happen?
This is where the senselessness lies.
Foregone conclusion
Parents near Shepparton held an after-formal party for their kids. Yet again, there was minimal security and no restriction of alcohol. The results?
- Brawls on a neighbour’s property.
- Children and parents terrified in their homes.
- Half a dozen Police units called at 10 pm. They use capsicum spray. Some are injured.
Organisers said, ‘They didn’t know this would happen’. Yet they’d have a very different attitude if there were consequences to their lack of forethought.
Duty of Care is the responsibility of the parents. They must think about consequences of their (lack of) actions.
On the edge
Four teens were hospitalised after a balcony at the party they were attending collapsed.
I believe this tragedy could have been avoided. Again, it was no accident.
Pre-assessments of party venues are necessary to flag physical safety issues.
Most balconies are designed for domestic use only. Our pre-assessment plans forbid parties on balconies and stair wells.
We also cover perimeter fences, pools, alcohol plans and experienced, professional event security. These simple things:
- Prevent most parties from turning ugly.
- Minimise violence in our community.
- Save lives.
- Free our emergency services and judicial system.
If you minimise the risks, you turn things from ‘senseless’ to sensible.
Duty of care
Parents need to show duty of care.
If the new alcohol legislation doesn’t include duty of care and alcohol control, we need to go back to the drawing board and look at my safe event law proposal.
A holistic approach is the best option
Unless we have consequence for parents who don’t exercise duty of care when hosting a party our kids will suffer ever more violence.
A tragic waste of life that’s truly ‘senseless’.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Sweet Sixteen & Utterly Pissed
August 8, 2011 at 7:08 am | Posted in Security | Leave a commentTags: alcohol, booze, car, child, drinking, duty of care, hospital, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, parent, secondary supply, stomach pump, teen, teenager, underage drinking
The ‘before 25 shots’ shot ...
- 16-year-old Sophie* attends a gathering at a friend’s house at 4 pm.
- Sophie drinks a bottle of vodka while the host parents party elsewhere on the property – not caring what’s happening in their home.
- Sophie passes out.
- Her eyes roll back.
- Her breathing becomes laboured.
- Her friends become distressed and wonder if they should ring an ambulance.
- The host parents order the ‘hindrance’ removed from their property!
- Sophie’s friends drag her outside, where a mother waits to collect her child at 7 pm.
- This concerned parent immediately takes Sophie to hospital in her car.
- There Sophie has her stomach pumped and is placed under observation for hours.
- What kind of people are these host parents?
- No duty of care for the kids in their home. No supervision. No ambulance. Nothing.
- Letting children drink so much. At that hour. Unsupervised.
- Worse, the new secondary supply law that goes live in February doesn’t cover BYO.
- What is this world coming to?!
- Parents! WAKE UP!
* This story is true. Only the name and photo are changed. Pray I don’t have to do likewise for you.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Second Thoughts
July 4, 2011 at 4:40 am | Posted in Security | Leave a commentTags: alcohol, bring your own, BYO, drinking, duty of care, event, kid, legislation, Naomi Oakley, parent, police, prevention, safe parties, secondary supply, teen
The new secondary supply alcohol law is fatally flawed.
Nasty Surprise
After my recent one-hour interview with the Member for Doncaster, Mary Wooldridge, it was discovered that the secondary supply law due to come into effect in Feb 2012 will NOT include BYO alcohol at teen parties.
In my experience of planning and protecting 700 teen events, most problems have been with drinks brought by guests and not managed by parents.
This secondary supply law omission, therefore, is a massive oversight!
Last fortnight, both parties (in Croydon and Geelong) which hit the media were BYO. In fact, most parties we hear about for all the wrong reasons are due to problems caused by BYO alcohol.
MP Wooldridge cited figures on teens overindulging at parties where parents supplied the alcohol.
I’m unsure how these figures were collated, given that police don’t keep records on how many out-of-control parties they attend.
This is something I’ve been pushing for. Wouldn’t it be better to have hard data on out-of-control parties so we can determine objectively why they’re going off the rails?
Massive Oversight
BYO parties are by far the most volatile, because no-one controls the alcohol.
The secondary supply law doesn’t cover BYO. This means that once this law is passed, we’ll see more BYO teen parties because host parents may find it too difficult to get guest parent permission for their kids to drink at these events.
Furthermore, we still don’t know what sort of permission is required (email? hand-written note?). Nor do we know how such permissions will be authenticated.
MP Wooldridge also said there’d be huge amounts of money spent on an awareness campaign. What happens then? I’ll tell you. More people will have BYO parties and no-one will be accountable again and again.
Planning to Fail
Some states already have secondary supply laws, but these have failed to control private parties. (Click here for Queensland’s latest nightmare.)
If Victoria’s secondary supply legislation also fails, as I’m sure it will, I believe we must look at teen party legislation for a solution.
A holistic approach is infinitely better. Parents must be accountable for every party they plan. Duty of care is THE most important factor. This makes far more sense than having police chase every underage partygoer (who’s drinking host-supplied alcohol) for a note from their parents.
This seems the height of impracticality to me.
What do you think?
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
Naomi Oakley
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