Yes, high school students have heard it all before.

Along with the pep rallies and football game of Homecoming Week comes the lectures about drinking and driving and making wise decisions while having a good time during and after Homecoming events.

Well, we hope some of it sunk in because studies have shown that drinking and driving seems to be common among teenagers.

About 30 percent of 15- to 20-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2000 had been drinking and 21 percent of those drivers were intoxicated, according to statistics gathered by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Ideally, no high school student should be drinking alcohol this weekend (or any other).

But that's an unrealistic. Students know about the penalties and risks, but some continue to consume alcohol illegally.

But no matter what choices students make this weekend, we encourage them not to drive after drinking or to ride with someone who has.

Not taking that risk will hopefully keep every student safe this weekend.