ILCC Encourages Safe, Responsible Choices During Prom Season (Springfield, IL) – As high school seniors across Illinois prepare for prom season, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) is encouraging students and families to prioritize safety, responsibility, and smart decision-making to ensure celebrations remain memorable for the right reasons.
Prom marks an important milestone for many students, celebrating the close of one chapter and the beginning of another. State officials say those celebrations should include planning ahead, avoiding risky behavior, and resisting peer pressure.
The ILCC warned that underage drinking carries serious risks, including impaired judgment, slower reaction times, and increased chances of accidents and injuries. Officials also noted alcohol use among teens can negatively affect brain development and lead to poor decisions with lasting consequences.
Beyond health and safety concerns, underage drinking can also bring legal consequences, including fines, suspension of driving privileges, school discipline, or arrest — outcomes that could affect future educational and employment opportunities.
The commission also stressed that alcohol consumption can make teens more vulnerable in unsafe situations and less able to recognize or avoid dangerous environments.
“Parents and guardians play a key role by having clear, honest conversations with their teens about safe decision-making surrounding alcohol,” ILCC Executive Director Lisa Gardner said. “Creating a safe prom season takes a community effort. When families, schools, and communities emphasize safe driving, and resisting peer pressure, students are better prepared to celebrate responsibly. The goal is simple: make sure every student gets home safely with nothing but good memories from this night.”
Officials encouraged students who plan to drive on prom night to remain sober, avoid distractions such as texting, obey speed limits, and always wear seatbelts. The agency also advised teens to establish personal boundaries before the event and stick to them, even when facing peer pressure.
Students were also encouraged to look out for one another by arriving together, staying together during the evening, and helping friends make safe choices throughout the night.
The ILCC said the best prom memories are the ones students can remember and urged teens to celebrate responsibly while supporting one another.
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission regulates the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages across the state while also working to reduce youth access to alcohol and promote responsible beverage service education.
For more information about the ILCC, visit ilcc.illinois.gov.
ILCC Encourages Safe, Responsible Choices During Prom Season
