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GUIDELINES FOR GATHERINGS AND MORE:
A HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY RESOURCE 2026-2027
A practical tool for parents in establishing guidelines for teenagers when they host or attend parties. Review the guidelines and laws below or download the brochure.
What Do I Need to Know When My Teen’s Friends Come Over to Study or Hang Out?
Adults are responsible for monitoring the safety of juveniles and others on their property. If teens come over after school while a parent or guardian is not present, it is advised that a designated adult should check on them. This resource supports establishing guidelines in regard to hosting or attending teen gatherings and more. Visit ThePowerofChoice.Info for further information.
Guidelines for Attending a Gathering
Know where your teen will be.
- Get the host’s address and phone number.
- Let your teen know you expect a call if the location of the get together is changed. (Tip: Have your teen take a selfie with an adult at the gathering and send to you).
Contact the parents of the teen hosting the get together.
- Verify the occasion.
- Be sure that a parent will be present.
- Offer assistance.
Communicate concerns.
- Discuss with your teen the possible situations that might arise with other teenagers.
- Let them know where you can be reached.
- Assure your teenager that you, or a specified friend or neighbor can be called if needed.
- Agree on an acceptable curfew.
- Wait up until your teen comes home and check in with them, so you can see, hear and smell any concerns.
Verify overnight arrangements whether planned or spontaneous.
Guidelines for Hosting a Gathering
Parents must be present during gatherings. No parents, no party! A home minus adult supervision is asking for trouble. As parents we have a parental, as well as legal responsibility to our children to see that gatherings are conducted in a safe manner.
Set ground rules with your teen beforehand.
- Let your teen know your expectations; they want guidelines.
- Discuss the risks of and a plan for any underage use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, should they occur.
- Give your teen options; at the same time establish parameters.
- Remind your teen they are accountable for their own behavior.
Set limits. “Limits are love.”
- Make a guest list in an effort to discourage uninvited guests.
- Establish a specific starting and ending time. (Check curfew regulations in these Guidelines, the state and your municipality).
Know your responsibilities.
Understand your liability, as parents, for both criminal charges and for monetary damages in case of a civil lawsuit where drugs and/or alcohol were used on your own private property.
Therefore:
- Be alert to the signs of alcohol or other drug use.
- Be aware of guests who leave the party and then return. Experience shows that in many instances guests who have left the party have the intent of drinking or using drugs.
- If you feel that despite your precautions things do get out of hand, i.e., loud music or disruptive behavior, please do not hesitate to call your local police or 911 for assistance.
- If you find any persons under the influence, call their family so that they can be safely transported home.
Other ideas:
- Have plenty of food and nonalcoholic drinks available.
- Try to meet your teen’s friends, their parents or caregivers. If a teen asks if their parent can contact you to ask about dropping off snacks, agree. If comfortable, exchanging contact information and making introductions helps build community.
State and City Ordinances
Driving After Curfew
Teens and parents should know that the license of a 16-year-old driver is not valid when driving in violation of state curfew hours.
Curfew
Local law enforcement officials enforce the curfew hours that are established by state law. It is unlawful for anyone under 17 to be in a public place after 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, or after midnight Friday and Saturday, unless accompanied by a parent or other adult, 18 or older (City of Aurora Code: 21 or older) approved by the parent. It is also unlawful for parents or other adults to knowingly permit youth in their custody to violate these curfews, unless going to, or directly from, employment, school-sponsored or religious activities, or in an emergency.
Tobacco, Alcohol, Other Drugs and the Law
Here is a summary of Illinois laws and local ordinances on possession and use of alcohol and other drugs by minors, and adult responsibilities.
Tobacco 21
The legal age to purchase cigarettes, vaping products including e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and other nicotine-based products is age 21, a nationwide law.
Drug Paraphernalia Violation—Vaping, Etc.
School disciplinary policies for school code violations are in effect for possession of drug paraphernalia (including vaping devices and supplies) which are subject to seizure.
Minor in Possession of Alcohol
Any minor who has alcohol in their possession on any street or public place may be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with fines up to $2,500 fine and/or up to 364 days in jail.
Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
It is unlawful for any person under age 21 to drink alcohol unless it is done under direct supervision and approval of the minor’s parents/guardian in the privacy of their own home. Consumption of alcohol by a minor under any other circumstances is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 30 days.
Zero Tolerance
Any person under the age of 21 who has consumed alcohol and operated or been in actual physical control of a motor vehicle may be requested to submit to tests to determine alcohol content. If that person refuses the test or has a blood-alcohol concentration greater than .00, their driver’s license will be suspended for 3 months to 1 year.
Parental Liability/Social Host Law—Alcohol
Parents or adults who furnish alcohol or other prohibited materials to a minor or allow their residence to be used for the unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol may be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. It is a $500 minimum fine (maximum $2,500 fine and up to one year in jail) to knowingly allow underage drinking to occur at a private residence.
Where a violation of this law directly or indirectly results in serious injury or death, the person violating this subsection shall be subject to a class 4 felony with penalties of 1 to 3 years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
Parental Social Host Prohibition—Marijuana
Parents/adults allowing those under age 21 into their residence, vehicle, or watercraft, knowingly permiting consumption of cannabis are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. It is a Class 4 felony if death or great bodily harm results.
Illegal to Facilitate the Underage Use of Cannabis
It is illegal for those under 21 to recreationally use, possess, or transport cannabis or any THC compound in any amount or form or to grow marijuana. It is unlawful for any person to facilitate the recreational use of cannabis by a person who is under the age of 21. It is unlawful to transfer (give or sell) cannabis to a person under 21 unless the recipient has an Illinois medical cannabis card. State criminal penalties for unlawful delivery of cannabis apply under 720 ILCS 550/5.
Unlawful to Use Cannabis in the Presence of Youth Whether in a Residence or Vehicle, on Private Property
Unlawful use of cannabis includes not using around juveniles, whether a residence or vehicle, private property, or places where smoking is prohibited such as restaurants and bars. The law prohibits use anywhere you can reasonably be observed by others, including youth, such as front porches and open garages.
Public Vaping Law Safeguards Against Secondhand Vapor
To protect others from the effects of secondhand vapor, use of vape pens, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes and hookahs is unlawful in Illinois public places and workplaces near any entrances, windows and ventilation areas, which includes school property. Civil penalties: $100 for the first offense, $250 for each subsequent offense.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol/Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID)
It is unlawful for a person under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating compound—including prescribed medications—to drive. Driving while under the influence is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a minimum fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. Any person who drives a motor vehicle anywhere in the state of Illinois thereby consents to a test to determine the alcoholic/drug content of their blood. If a person refuses to submit to the test their license will automatically be suspended for at least one year. DUID is prosecuted under the same statute as a DUI offense.
Illegal Transportation of Open Liquor/Cannabis
It is unlawful for any person to transport, carry, possess, or have any alcoholic liquor within the passenger area of any motor vehicle except in the original container and with the seal unbroken. Regardless of whom the alcohol belongs to, all who are in the vehicle may be charged with illegal transportation. If possessing cannabis while driving a motor vehicle, those under 21 may may be subject to a driver’s license suspension under the Illinois Vehicle Code. DUI cannabis enforcement impairment tests may include divided attention tests, behavioral indicators, smell or presence of cannabis, admission of cannabis use, and/or 5 nanograms of THC in the blood.
Local Ordinances
Presence, Possession, or Purchase of Alcoholic Liquor by Minors (City of Naperville Ordinance)
Presence Restriction: It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 19 to be or to remain in any room, apartment, house, place or vehicle which is not licensed for the sale of alcoholic liquor under this Chapter, when such person knows alcoholic liquor is being consumed by persons under the age of 19 years. Possession by Minors: No parent or other person shall intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently give or deliver alcoholic liquor to, or permit possession of alcoholic liquor by, his child, or any other person under the age of 21.
Parental Responsibility—Alcohol
Parents are prohibited from giving or providing alcoholic beverages to their minor children or any individual under the age of 21 (unless such consumption is in the performance of a religious service or ceremony and is accompanied by close parental supervision). Further, parents who believe with some probability that their minor children have consumed or will consume alcoholic liquor shall restrain said minor from operating a motor vehicle and/or engaging in any acts of vandalism, theft, or disorderly conduct. Violations of these provisions will result in fines of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.
Consequences for Prohibited Substances at School Events, in Buildings, on Grounds or During Bus/Transport
Students who purchase, possess, receive, deliver or consume any alcohol or intoxicating compound that is not prescribed to them, or possess any related paraphernalia, risk facing serious consequences including school disciplinary action and possibility of civil or criminal charges. Those under 21 charged and convicted of drug- or alcohol-related offenses resulting in court supervision/conviction also risk jeopardizing driving privileges licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.
Warning to Persons Under the Age of 21
You are subject to a fine up to $500.00 under the ordinances of the City of Naperville if you purchase or attempt to purchase alcoholic liquor, or misrepresent your age for the purpose of purchasing or obtaining alcoholic liquor.
More information: Contact Janyce Hamilton at 630-961-2992 or by email.
The Power of Choice is designed to:
- Reduce youth alcohol and other substance use
- Correct misperceptions about the risk of harm and prevalence of use
- Encourage family communication about not using alcohol and other substances
- Provide tools for caregivers to help them talk with kids about not using alcohol and other substances
The Power of Choice is a project of 360 Youth Services, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Indian Prairie School District 204, Naperville Police Department, Aurora Police Department and District 203 and 204 parents.
Funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
6th – 8th Grade Student Campaign
The Power of Choice is designed to:
- Reduce youth alcohol and other substance use
- Correct misperceptions about the risk of harm and prevalence of use
- Encourage family communication about not using alcohol and other substances
- Provide tools for caregivers to help them talk with kids about not using alcohol and other substances
The Power of Choice is a project of 360 Youth Services, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Indian Prairie School District 204, Naperville Police Department, Aurora Police Department and District 203 and 204 parents.
Funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.