Georgia Legal Report
While “Under-21 Clubs,” “Teen Nights,” and “No-I.D. Parties” can provide a safe space for teens to socialize, all too often they instead place young children in dangerous situations, exposing them to drugs, sex and violence.
Two 14-year-old boys were shot during a “No-ID Party” outside an Atlanta nightclub in September 2015.
Considering such horrific headlines, Connect with Kids, an educational media company, asks Georgia teens, parents and nightclub managers, Are Teen Clubs Safe?
It’s teen night at an adult dance club, and 16-year-old Alicia is having a great time. “They don’t really have a lot of clubs for kids anywhere,” she says. “Gives you something to do, meet people, go out of with your friends, hang out, get away from your parents. It’s just fun.”
But what’s “just fun” for Alicia worries her mom. “I worry about the drug scene, I worry about the older kids being entwined with the younger kids. I’m making sure that it’s okay that my younger daughter is here,” says Diane Cook Loranger.
Teen dance clubs are popping up across the country, but they are nothing like the teen clubs of a generation ago. Are they safe? Some are, but the only way to be sure is for parents to check it out for themselves.
Police recently closed one club for holding wet T-shirt contests for girls as young as age 14.
“There are a lot of clubs I wouldn’t go to. A lot of clubs there’s a lot of fighting, drugs, there’s a lot of stuff that teenagers shouldn’t be around that they let go on,” Alicia says.
Teen clubs are a business; parents should understand what they are selling. Before dropping your kids off, experts say, ask questions.
- What type of music is being played?
- What type of people are actually going to the clubs?
- Are there weapons being taken into the clubs?
- Are there drugs being taken into the clubs?
And a lot of that you can’t tell right at the front door,” says Bob Johnson, manager of “Cowboys,” the club Alicia likes.
And one last question: If a teen club is popular, why is it? What’s going on inside there that attracts kids? “You pretty much have to judge character,” Johnson says.
The only way to do that, is to open the door and walk inside….Other important factors Johnson says parents should check out:
- Area of town where club is located
- The club’s hours
- Admission
- Police Presence?
- Club rules and regulations
Nightclub Responsibility and Patron Rights
By law, nightclub owners are required to protect all guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. This responsibility is paramount when overseeing the care of minor children. Should the property owner or management company fail to provide adequate safety and security measures, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.
We Fight for Victims of Nightclub Negligence in Georgia …Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.
The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients in Fulton County State Court.
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