TOWAMENCIN – Each year, juniors and seniors alike prepare for the infamous prom season. While the boys rack their brains to find the most unique way to ask their crush to be their date, the girls spend countless hours searching for the perfect dress. But with prom comes the after-prom party, where underage drinking almost always makes an appearance.

Alcohol seems to be the main illegal substance of choice among youth, yet most students know that the consequences of drinking alcohol underage can lead to making poor decisions that can result long term effects. At the time, drinking from that red cup can make you feel included, and your friend group might even respect you more for taking that sip. But the truth is, it’s not worth it.

To try and curb the amount of students drinking after the senior prom this year, North Penn High School provided a live DUI reenactment show for all the seniors to watch. Wednesday during third period, each senior was seated outside in the bus circle to watch the reenactment. On the “scene” were two cars, totaled after crashing into one another. Two teens laid on the ground after being ejected from the car, others acted out the drunk drivers and passengers, and two NP students narrated as the situation unfolded.

One of the driver’s calls 911 and immediately the police roll up to the scene. Soon after arriving, the officers call for backup. An ambulance, fire truck and another police car come into the parking lot, surveying the scene and looking at the victims and any damage that had been done. Most are unharmed and won’t need much medical attention. However, one student is found severely injured and needs more serious medical assistance. In a flash, the sound of a helicopter fills the audience’s ears as a chopper lands right on the grass of the school. The student is wheeled on a gurney into the airliner and is quickly medivaced to the nearest hospital.

After the narrator’s finishing remarks, the reenactment was done. Principal Mr. Burton Hynes spoke of his opinions on the situation then introduced a guest speaker to the audience. Montgomery County District Judge Andrea Duffy talked to the seniors about all the reasons why teens shouldn’t drink while being underage, especially emphasizing to not drink and drive. Judge Duffy explained how many kids have come into her court, many of them being NPHS students, and the consequences their mistakes entail. She explained how she wanted us to make the right choice not to drink, because having an underage drinking violation or a DUI on our permanent record would keep us from getting that scholarship we worked so hard for, that remarkable job we’ve always wanted, or that promotion we earned. She told students  that she knew it would be hard to resist a drink at that party with all your friends egging you on, but to stay strong and not fall into the trap.

After her speech, the students were dismissed back to their classes. Personally, I thought the reenactment was very powerful, and students around me thought the same. During the show, senior Kyra Novak commented, “This is so real. If something like this ever happened to me I would be scared out of my mind.”

Other students really enjoyed that the high school brought in an ambulance, fire trucks, and even a real helicopter to make the situation seem as real as possible.

The issue of teenagers drinking after prom and even in general will always be a topic of concern. But it’s about how the teens are taught that making the wrong decision can have serious mental and physical consequences that can impact the rest of their lives that influence their decisions. The hope is  that after watching the DUI reenactment, if students of North Penn are offered an alcoholic drink, they will remember the serious consequences it can cause. As cool as it sounds, alcohol is not worth it.