FALLS VILLAGE — It’s prom season, and that means tux rentals, searching for the perfect dress, donning boutonnieres and corsages — and drinking.

It’s that time of year (Housatonic Valley Regional High School will hold its prom Saturday, May 12) and though drinking at the school events is not allowed, public health officials and educators across the state are reminding parents about the underage drinking law, which went into effect Oct. 1, 2006.

That law holds property owners responsible for underage drinking on private property. A first offense is an infraction. Subsequent offenses carry up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both.

The law also makes it illegal for a minor to possess alcohol anywhere, rather than just in public places. The first offense for a minor in possession of alcohol is an infraction. Subsequent offenses carry fines between $200 and $500.

"I know there are post-prom parties," said Cynthia Bianchi, director of the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, which serves students and families in the Northwest Corner. "I know parents try their best to deal with that issue. [The law] is another tool they can use in conversations with their kids. It helps to reinforce the fact that kids are not supposed to drink under the age of 21."

The high school has programs in place as part of its health classes to address drinking and driving. Speakers who have been impacted by drunk driving address the students, telling their stories, about once every other year.

"We talk about drinking and driving in all our health classes," said Lindsley Colligan, a health teacher at Housatonic. "We have specific units in ninth grade and 11th grade about drinking and driving."

Despite the work of educators to inform students of the risks of drinking, the 2005 Connecticut School Health Survey, administered by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, found that 45 percent of high school students in Connecticut had had at least one drink in the 30 days prior to taking the survey; 27 percent reported that they had engaged in binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row) in that time. The survey also indicated that 11 percent had driven a vehicle after drinking.

In light of these statistics, Bianchi said that parents should be available to their children.

"I’m not saying to condone the behavior, but kids should know that if they get into a situation, they should be able to call home and get picked up without severe consequences," she said.