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19 March 2024

Unsupervised UAE teen parties wild binge events

Published
By Sneha May Francis

The news of 15-year-old Harry Harling falling to his death from the 11th floor of a building under construction after a drink-fuelled party with his pals has opened a Pandora’s Box of sorts, highlighting how expat teens in the UAE are living on the edge.

Australian mother of a teen boy, Hannah described, on an expat forum, that such unsupervised teen parties are extremely wild. “My son was invited to a few teen parties, and they are certainly much wilder than what he had experienced back in Australia. Maybe it’s because alcohol is illegal here, and kids enjoy taking bigger risks. They also have too much money and freedom,” she wrote.

“We were horrified at the lack of parental supervision at some of the parties my 17-year-old attended,” added an American mom. “They were served, not only drinks but other substances as well. These things do happen in other countries as well.”

These teen parties are wild and widely advertised on social media sites.

“Since most clubs have strict entry policies (at 21+), teenagers are happy to go for house parties, either held in rented villas or in unfinished apartments,” added 28-year-old Tina, who grew up in the UAE. “I’ve been to a massive do that was hosted by a teen at his house while his parents were away on holiday. The place was an utter mess.”

Since villas are rented out only to adults, teens often rope in an adult friend to help them out. “On an average, the villas cost Dh8,000 to Dh10,000 for a night,” revealed Nidhi, a 30-year-old, who also grew up in the UAE.

She often bumps into pesky teens at villa parties and finds their behaviour obnoxious and out of limits. “One time, we had to reprimand a boy, who drank way too much and was messing up the party. He was allowed to sleep-over at the villa that night, and had to apologise to the hosts the next morning, which he did.”

In fact, some parties are hosted at home even, while the parents are still around, but go unmonitored. “It’s not easy to supervise your kids at a party thrown in your own house,” explained Indian parent Ritesh Kumar, adding, “If I’m in one room, and the kids in another, then how do we know what’s going on there?”

Innovative fixes

Teens who do not have access to alcohol are reported to be devising innovative ways to get their fix.

The teen fixes at these parties are numerous as has been reported in the media. From inhaling butane gas to sniffing glue, to burning insects and inhaling the fumes, the ways are cheap, novel and, sometimes even, lethal. The more prominent fixtures are “Chaini Khaini” (a tobacco high in nicotine) and “Spice”. Even, over-the-counter drugs like painkillers and cough syrups contribute to the hazy night-outs.

“There are all sorts of stuff available at the party, and they pay Dh50 for entry and another Dh50 for drinks and eats,” reported Tina. “My dad offered me my first drink (or sip). So, when I went out with my friends I knew what to expect and didn’t think it was a big deal,” she added.

Most teens enter this vicious cycle, only to be accepted by their peers. “I tried inhaling butane gas and didn’t like it, but I continued to do it because I didn’t want to be left out,” said a teen, on condition of anonymity.

Boredom, too, is a major cause. “Kids are bored of the malls and sporting arcades, and crave for something more daring. They arethrilled by doing illegal stuff,” stated Helen Cantor. Also, many expat forums highlighted how teens, who aren’t able to find part-time work, unlike in their home country, end up with lots of free time and nothing to do.

And while it’s a given that teenagers are bound to experiment and attempt to fast-track their way into adulthood, it’s imperative for schools and parents to set the boundaries and educate them about the consequences. “They need to be taught to observe the rules in the UAE,” added Simon, a freelance writer, elaborating how UAE has zero tolerance for law-breakers, with a penalty of lengthy jail terms or deportation.

“When I was 17, my mother sat me down and explained the risks that come with breaking the law in the UAE, and that if I broke the rules it was up to me, but I would be the one who suffered the consequences. In the UK a 17-year-old is pretty much an adult, but here the rules are different,” wrote a British expat.

It’s not only the legal implications, sometimes such daring escapades can lead to fatalities too, like Harry Harling’s death and that of 16-year-old American boy Anton Tahmasian, last June, who died after inhaling a fatal dose of butane at a graduation party in Sidra Village in Umm Suqeim.

Although supervision is the most obvious step, psychiatrists warned parents that if the situation isn’t handled delicately, it can be disastrous. “It’s not easy for parents to track their teens without being rebuked. They could react differently if controlled, making the exercise counter-productive. It should be handled carefully,” explained Psychiatrist Naresh Kumar Dhar of Jumeriah Prime Medical Centre.

[Image via Shutterstock]