Thursday, October 1, 2026
The end of another school year brings a collective sigh of relief from kids and parents. After months of rigid schedules and early-morning alarms, it’s time to let kids be kids. Many of us look forward to helping our children recapture the kind of unstructured summer we grew up with in the 1980s and ’90s: days at the beach, and nights running around block parties in celebration of the seemingly infinite invincibility of youth.
With summer, however, come what safety experts refer to as the “100 Deadliest Days.” Data shows that between Memorial Day and Labor Day, young drivers are at a significantly higher risk of being severely injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes. While there are many reasons for this, the data is clear: The biggest culprits are the ease with which kids can get their hands on alcohol, and the relaxed attitude of neighbors who tend to look the other way when it happens.
The top four ways that many area students obtain alcohol are at parties; from friends under age 21; from stores, gas stations, restaurants or bars; and from parents or guardians, with their permission.
The answer isn’t to lock our kids indoors or over-schedule their days off. Instead, the Oceanside SAFE Coalition believes the key to protecting that classic summer magic lies in the simple, collective actions we can take as a community.
As we step into the season, here are four easy ways that adults can work together to provide a safety net for summer fun.
1. Build the “X-Plan” habit early. Long summer days mean kids are navigating playdates, parties and sleepovers. Give them an easy way out of awkward or uncomfortable situations by establishing a simple text code, like the letter X. Agree that they can text you this code in any situation, and you’ll pick them up with no questions asked and no punishment. It preserves their independence, strengthens trust, and ensures they always have a way out.
2. Group and label your coolers. Summer hospitality means block parties, backyard barbecues and post-game celebrations. It only takes a second for curious kids to mistake a colorful hard seltzer for a regular soda. When hosting, keep adult beverages grouped together, clearly labeled, and away from kid-friendly juice and water coolers.
3. Know the modern digital landscape. Part of the freedom of a ’90s-style summer was that temptations were obvious. Today they are camouflaged. Modern e-cigarettes are intentionally designed to look like everyday school and tech supplies, like highlighters, USB drives and smartwatches. Social media apps such as SnapChat are also used by young people to discreetly exchange substances. Staying aware of current trends, learning modern slang and setting parental controls on technological devices help us keep a casual, protective eye on the digital backyard.
4. Ditch the “better under my roof” fallacy. We’ve all heard the justification, “I’d rather they drink in my house than get on the road.” While parents’ intention may be one of safety, this can be a very dangerous perspective. In Nassau County, the Social Host Law is black and white: If you host a party where underage drinking or drug use occurs, you can be held legally liable for whatever happens next. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t buy the alcohol, were sleeping upstairs or even if you weren’t home at the time.
Letting other people’s kids party in your home isn’t “safe keeping,” it’s a criminal liability. The law applies to anyone 18 or older who controls a private residence, and knows or has a reason to know that alcoholic beverages are being consumed by people younger than 21 on the premises. Before your child goes to a party, call the hosts and confirm that an adult will be actively supervising.
We want our kids to remember the summers of their youth with the same fondness that we do. By working together and taking a few simple steps as a community, we can protect their freedom, preserve their safety, and ensure that these 100 days are unforgettable for all the right reasons.
Alison Eriksen is project coordinator of the Oceanside SAFE Coalition, whose mission is to prevent and reduce underage drinking and substance misuse among youth.
