Surfing Along Malibu Beach, California from The U.S. National Archives on Flickr.

Are you, or your kids, packing bags for spring break? If you’re traveling to a different country, review these safety tips from the State Department before you leave.

• Avoid underage and excessive alcohol consumption, which, leads to the majority of accidents, arrests and crime suffered by American students on spring break.
• Don’t purchase, use, or have drugs in your possession. Drug charges in other countries can carry severe penalties, including imprisonment without bail for up to a year before a case is even tried.
• Obey the local laws. Your U.S. citizenship does not make you exempt from full prosecution under another country’s criminal justice system.
• Take warning flags on beaches seriously. If black or red flags are up, do not enter the water.
• Only use licensed and regulated taxis. Some passengers of unlicensed taxis have been robbed, kidnapped, or raped.
• Do not carry weapons. Even a pocketknife can result in a serious weapons charge in other countries.
• Avoid participating in demonstrations and other political activities. Political activities in other countries can result in detention or deportation by officials.

If you find yourself in trouble in a foreign country, contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. You can find information on embassies and consulates around the world at usembassy.gov.