Massachusetts School To Implement Breathalyzer Analysis

By Rachel Stockton

Rather than an afternoon in detention, students suspected of drinking in a Massachusetts school district may be subjected to a breathalyzer test during school hours, pending ratification by the Foxborough School Committee on October 19.   While breathalyzers have already been used in the district at school events based on the subjective observance of chaperones, officials believe that taking breathalyzer analysis one step further could further stem the tide of underage drinking.

While the verdict is still out among parents and students, the ACLU has decried the idea, claiming that the threat of breathalyzer analysis will drive students underground, leading to illicit drug use.  An agency spokesperson has stated that smelling alcohol on a student or reporting them based on observing their behavior should be enough of an indicator for school officials to act on.

While solutions to the problem of underage drinking may vary, one thing is certain:  underage drinking has reached crisis level in the United States.  According to the CDC, 11% of all alcohol consumed is ingested by kids ages 12-20, regardless of illegality.  In 2005, 45,000 ER visits by those in this age range were directly attributed to alcohol consumption.

One of the dangers of underage drinking is that those who engage in it are more likely to binge drink than are moderate drinking adults. Reflecting this trend is a report that claims that underage drinkers consume more drinks per occasion than adult drinkers (Centers for Disease Control).

The CDC and other agencies, such as the Office of the Surgeon General, believe that combating the problem will require an all effort on the part of local citizenry, something that the Foxborough district is trying to encourage.  Those students who fail breathalyzer analysis will not face legal action, but rather a 5-day suspension for a first offense and a 10-day suspension and possible expulsion hearing for a second incident.