Random breathalizer testing… In public high schools.

Lovely…

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Students who attend homecoming dances on Saturday will be doing some heavy breathing — into Breathalyzers.
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At Santa Barbara High School, officials will screen every third or fourth student who arrives and anyone who appears drunk, said Principal Paul Turnbull. Dos Pueblos High School administrators will use the Breathalyzer only if they suspect a problem, said Principal Quentin Panek.

“There’s a lot of heavy drinking going on,” said Penny Jenkins, executive director of the local nonprofit Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. “Something’s got to be done.”

I cannot even believe I’m reading this. It’s one thing to search lockers (I’m okay with that) but to start testing students for chemical dependency? What right does a school have to do that? Oh, that’s right. None. One student makes an interesting point:

Senior Alexander Argyropoulos said alcohol testing encourages students to use drugs that cannot be detected with the Breathalyzers.

“(Drinking) is kind of part of growing up, something all kids are going to do,” Argyropoulos said. “It’s better than possibly trying cocaine.”

Drinking may not be a part of growing up, but let’s take his first point… If the school starts testing for beer, people will start smoking pot. I actually think he’s right, believe it or not. But let’s not kid ourselves here; if they can do a breathalizer without cause, what’s to stop them from taking hair, urine, or other samples testing for other drugs?

And it’s not a slippery slope.

Hopefully the ACLU will stand up for these kids. They’re going to be meeting about it before the policy is implemented.

Source: Yahoo News