Teenage parties at home

[tactum]

DD having her first mixed teenage party at home - all the children will be 14 and are, I hope, sensible kids but you never know! I have said no alcohol and won't have any available here, but am obviously not able to search people on the way in to check. We will be here the whole time, but not micromanaging what goes on.

I had assumed that they are responsible for themselves and if they choose to smuggle something in, or do something idiotic at my house then it' their responsibility and there is no comeback on me. But saw a friend today who said that may not be the case.

Does anyone know what the position is here? If one of them does something stupid could it be my fault? Are they 'in my care' from a legal perspective? Say for example one of them fell out of a tree and broke something that surely isnt my fault? If someone got so pissed they were ill? If someone god forbid took drugs (not that I believe for a minute they will). It just got me thinking about the general principle.

Any thoughts?

Just to warn you if they know you're there they will most likely drink a lot beforehand. That's what I did back in the day anyway at that age! Especially parties in pubs!

Possibly not so much of an issue here as DDs school is a way away so all the kids will be being dropped off by parents...

What kind of comeback are you worried about? Do you think one of the other parents would take you to court because their kid got drunk and did something stupid? Doesn't seem likely to me.

My dd is an older teenager and she has had a few parties at ours. Yes, they did sneak in drink. Yes, one girl (that I know of) drank enough to get sick. She had the good grace to be embarrassed about it afterwards.

I've got just the same issue. DD (14) is having a party at our house on 19th May. I'm leaving my 21year old niece and her best friend here to supervise in a non-threatening way and we will be at the neighbours opposite. We've had plenty of talks about it, well I've had to force her to as she'd rather I shut up, and my main fears are

• alcohol
• sex
• the word spreading

I think I've done as much as I can and just hope for the best. I told her that she has to talk to me about what's going to happen, who is coming etc, otherwise she risks the worst case scenario where her parents have to swoop in and chuck everyone out. That is far worse than telling me what is planned and expecting there to be some control on the night. I don't know about being responsible if something goes wrong, I'm just hoping it won't. Sorry to hijack