Drop off kid at birthday party or stay?

My wife and I are debating the idea of dropping off our 7.5 year old son at a classmate's birthday party tonight. It's a laser tag place and he likes the idea of being there without our presence. It would be the first time we'd let him go somewhere without either of us there. I know he would like the freedom and independence, my worry is what he might do with that (read: make poor choices). I don't want to place undue burden on the other grown-ups who might be there, especially the host.

What say you? Should we take this big step in granting him his first taste of independence from us or is he too young for that yet?

UPDATE: At the party now but hanging back and letting the kids do their thing. None of the parents left. I’m thinking this is a cultural thing? I don’t know if it’s an American thing or American Midwest or what-have-you. In any case, here I am.