H.S. principal gets breathalyzers for prom | Community Spirit

PORTLAND, Ore. - Amidst the traditional prom finery there will be one thing different at Grant High School's 2010 spring prom: breathalyzer tests.

The principal at Grant High School in Northeast Portland said he wants to make sure prom is celebrated - this year - without anyone getting in who has "tossed a few back." He is even getting help from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, the state industry that regulates bars and liquor stores, to ensure no one has a drop of alcohol.

E-mails have been non-stop for Grant High School Principal Joseph Malone since he announced his plan. Most, like this one, are position: "I think this is a great idea and applaud you for trying."

Malone said the school is "instituting a pilot program of having a breathalyzers at the prom, and it's not random," he said. "We've decided to do breathalyzers on everybody."

It's all to prevent a repeat of what has happened in the past.

"Last year we did have some incidents of students with alcohol," Malone said, "and we don't want that to happen again." Previous years have included alcohol-related injury car accidents and even one student reportedly driving accidentally onto the back of a flat-bed truck.

The breathalyzers are coming from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which on Friday had a representative demonstrating how the tests work. OLCC agents also are training Grant's campus officer to administer the tests.

Carl Lewis at OLCC had this to say: "I understand the importance of trying to deter the kids that are underage from drinking alcohol and we agree with that philosophy."

It is not just some parents and the OLCC jumping on board, it's also the students.

"I think it's good," said one Grant High School student, "because people won't be acting a fool and everything will probably be safe."

Another student, Karsten Topelmann, said she too thinks this "is an appropriate measure," she said. "I don't think it's the greatest idea to go to prom drunk; I just think you should enjoy it as your last dance."

And that's the message Grant High administrators say they want to get out.

"If we don't find anybody [with alcohol in their system] then I'm happy," Malone said.
 
Malone is expected to hold informational meetings with parents to answer questions on how the breathalyzers will be administered. We're told he also will be calling local limousine companies to ensure students are not stashing alcohol inside the limos for after the dance.