Massachusetts School Plans Breath Tests to Combat Underage Drinking

david-sessions

David Sessions

Washington Reporter
Posted:
10/9/09
A high school in Foxborough, Mass., plans to institute Breathalyzer tests to combat underage drinking, which education officials say is occurring both in and after school. The Boston Globe reported Friday that if members of the School Committee formally endorse the measure on Oct. 19, Foxborough will become the first school in Massachusetts to test for in-school drinking.

The tests would not be conducted at random or given to everyone, but would be administered if alcohol use is suspected. A positive result will result in removal from school and a five-day suspension.

School officials say that chaperones and teachers spend too much time trying to determine if students are drinking, and that Foxborough High had at least 12 drinking incidents last year. "I feel bad when I have to tell parents their kids aren't graduating or they've been caught with alcohol," principal Jeff Theodoss said. "That's not a fun part of the job.'' He said the Breathalyzer tests would take the guesswork out of drinking accusations and would be fairer. "And if we're wrong, we'll apologize," he added.

The ACLU of Massachusetts responded critically, saying the policy isn't an invasion of privacy but is still a bad idea. "If you observe a kid who smells of alcohol and is stumbling around, that's probably enough to go on," a staff lawyer said.

Students and parents had mixed reactions. Most parents who spoke with the Globe seemed to view the Breathalyzer policy favorably, while at least one student said it probably wouldn't do much to change the situation. Drinking mostly happens at extracurricular events, he said, and kids who drink in school "need a counselor, not a Breathalyzer."