Matt James, 17 year old, is dead after having fallen from a ninth story balcony. Mitch Albom, a writer for the Tribune Media Services, said. “Police say he was drunk.” This story would be a tragic if it were an isolated instance; it’s more tragic because it is not,” Albom added.

   A 19-year-old fell from a fifth story balcony, and, according to his friends, alcohol was a factor. “If anything, alcohol is the real story here,” Albom said.

   “Outstanding parties, beaches, cheap booze and beer,” a travel agency advertised, in an attempt to sell trips to teens. The Trauma Foundation says that warmer temperatures, spring flowers and gentle ocean breezes as well as appealing ads from travel agencies, lure students to the beaches during spring break.

   “Seeing the sunset over the beach, hearing the waves crashing on the sand and seeing the people relaxing in beach houses on the TV ads make me want to go to the beach,” senior T.K. Busby said.

   The United States Department of Agriculture says that alcohol is a factor in most teenage arrests and deaths during Spring Break. According to Barbara Bolt, Driver Education Instructor, “State law requires if you are not 21, you cannot buy or drink alcoholic beverages.”

    Persons over 21 may not have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) over 0.08 percent and commercial drivers may not have over 0.04 percent for the first offense. “Vance County’s Driver Education’s main goal is safety,” Bolt said. “Many sources are used to teach basic driver education, with a strong emphasis on no underage drinking.”

   Northern’s spring break has passed for this year; however, it is only the beginning of teenage treks to the beach. “I love to go to the beach and spend time with my family,” junior Mark Daniels said. “I like to relax and chill.”

   Parents are not just having money worries; they are also worried about where their teenage children are driving or riding with another driver. Parents want their children to be safe whether going to prom or wherever they may go.

   “My child’s safety is always on my mind, whether she is going to the prom or just riding with her uncle,” Edith Keeton, mother of senior Audrey Yancey said. “Prom was a special event for everyone; however, I was worried about what might happen to my daughter, I was glad that she and her friends made right choices.”

    Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) are two organization willing to help educate people about drinking and driving. SADD works with teens, teaching them to make good choices about drinking and driving. MADD helps to get drunk drivers off the road.

   On April 21 Northern staged a event on its soccer field to show seniors what happens to people who drink and drive. An ambulance, fire trucks, police officers, and even a helicopter were all involved. They had two wrecked cars and participants acting as if they were injured, drunk, dead and the mother of the dead girl.

    Firemen used the “Jaws of Life” to open the car to get the injured person out and the helicopter flew him to the hospital. The body of the girl who had died in the accident was covered and before her mother came to view the body. Only one man actor has been drinking he was arrested and sent to jail for driving while impaired, injuring others and killing a person.

   This was an emotional time for some of the students. “It was an eye opening experience but it was a sad reality that happens everyday,” senior Chelsea Wade said. Senior Nick Ramirez said “the event helps me see what could happen if I drink and drive.”

   Handouts and videos come form multiple sources such as the “Governor’s Highway Safety Program,” MADD, AAA Foundation for Traffic safety, SafePath, operation Lifesaver, Drunk Busters and the North Carolina Trucking Association, as well as many others.