This article was written by a young person from Wigan.
Throwing a party at your house is always a fun way to have all your friends together in one place. If you’re having a party or going to a house party we hope you’ll have a brilliant time.
These top tips can help make the party go well.
Plan
If you’re the host in your parents’ or own house, remember to move all the valuables and anything that might break. Also, cover the carpets (in case of any spillages) and provide plenty of food and water.
Don’t send out an open invite
Consider carefully who you will invite. Never advertise your party over Facebook or Twitter as people you may not know could turn up and cause problems. If things start to get out of hand, don’t be afraid to call your parents or the police.
Make some rules
Don’t be afraid to have rules at your party - it keeps you, the house and your friends safe. At the start of the party tell everybody if there are ‘no-go’ areas in the house, consider even putting up a sign. Always state clearly if you do not want drugs or alcohol to be used at the party or near the house.
REMEMBER: Keep the neighbours in mind and keep the noise down, especially after midnight.
Think of the house, especially if it’s not yours! It’s nice to be invited to a house party, especially if your friends are going, but sometimes they are not always as fun as they seem. Always respect the house you are going to.
Drugs and alcohol
FACT: If you are under 18, it is illegal for you to buy/drink alcohol.
There may be friends of friends that you don’t really know at the party, so never leave your drink unattended as it could be spiked. Also, never take a drink/pills/food/sweets from somebody you don’t know as you never know what’s in them!
If you are drinking alcohol and feel a bit too tipsy, eat a little food and drink plenty of water. If you feel very ill or are worried your drink may have been spiked, tell a friend immediately.
If a friend appears to be dangerously ill after taking alcohol or drugs, call 999. Even if your friend has taken something illegal, the most important thing is to make sure they are safe, so don’t be afraid to call an ambulance if you suspect they might need emergency medical help.
FACT: Lots of drugs are illegal and even if a drug is legal (legal high) this does not make it safe for you.
Just because a friend has been fine when they have taken something, this does not mean that you will be fine. Alcohol and drugs affect everyone in slightly different ways.
Make new friends but be careful
It’s great to make new friends at a party but never leave the party alone with someone you haven’t met before. They might seem nice but if you’ve only just met them, how do you know?
Always carry a condom to protect yourself from the danger of STI’s in case you have sex with someone at the party. But never let anyone pressure you into having sex if you don’t really want to. Walk away from any situations you don’t feel comfortable in and find your friends.
Having sex with someone after drinking is never a good idea, drinking alcohol can make you think you want to do things that you will regret the next day.
Take care of your friends and keep an eye on each other to make sure you know where everyone is and that you are all safe.
Don't do anything you don’t really want to
Even a bit of alcohol combined with a party atmosphere can lower your inhibitions and you may find yourself under pressure from people you’ve met at the party to do things you don’t really want to such as trying drugs or having sex with someone you don’t really want to sleep with. If this has happened to you, you could read the article on ‘Sex’ on this website to get more info on services that can give you advice and support.
You may feel like you want to impress friends or new people you’ve met but you will feel horrible if you do things you’ll regret later.
Be strong and true to yourself and don’t let anyone talk you into doing anything you don’t really want to do.
Getting home
Don’t be afraid to ask your parents to drop you off or pick you up from a party but make sure you take extra money in case of an emergency so you can get home safely. Always tell someone when you are leaving and let them know you got home safely, as they may be worried.
Your experiences
‘I don’t like it when the house is messy the next day.’
‘House parties are good because most people apply no rules.’
‘It’s in a house so you know it’s in a safe place.’
‘I had just moved into my own flat. my friends persuaded and peer pressured me into having a party, I was up for doing it at first but then around 70 people I didn’t know turned up. Everyone was intoxicated and noisy and no-one respected my house. The neighbours complained and threatened to call the police. At around 9pm I tried to get people to leave. There was a lot of damage. Someone had punched a hole through my door, broken my table, sick in my bin, blood on the walls, cups were smashed and there were broken bottles everywhere.’
‘The party was split in two. The first half was all happy and enjoyment and in the second half it kicked off and windows were smashed.’
‘It was scary because people were taking legal highs and fights started.’
‘Good points are they are safer than going out on the town, you see more people you know and it’s good socialising. Bad points are the mess, fights, sick, and things being stolen.’