Teen drinking before and during high school football games is not a new problem. It happened when I was in high school and it happens today. However, now that I am the parent of two high school students, the problem seems both new and troublesome. So I was happy when our High School Administration decided to step in and create new rules for students at games. All students between 7th and 12th grade must enter the stadium through a separate entrance. The students are not allowed to bring in any food or beverages and cannot bring in bags or purses of any kind. When the administration suspects a student has been drinking, school personnel administer a breathalyzer test. If a student tests positive, the police are called. If a test is negative, the student can go back to the game.
Since the implementation of the new rules, there is a noticeable change in behavior at games. Students still seem to be enjoying the sporting events and there is an increase in school spirit. And, kids who felt intimidated by the drinking feel more comfortable at these school events.
I support these efforts by the school. I think adolescence is a tough time for kids and I support anything we can do as adults to help them make good decisions. This makes life easier for them…and for me.
More school administrations should take similar actions. I also know students who do not attend school functions at which they know high risk behavior is taking place! A positive breathalyzer means the parents need to be called as well as the police. I really think too many parents have their heads in the sand.
What needs to be done is less on the punishment and more on the safety. If you recognize kids are going to drink do one of a few things. 1) teach them responsible drinking, 2) Keep them penned in and away from places with increased danger. You agree you did this as a kid and they should be able to as well, just keep them safe.
P.S. If you let them they may not care as much as before.
While I agree completely that schools ought to be doing more to prevent drinking at school events, it seems like a double standard to make the teens enter through a separate way. I also disagree with not allowing students to bring in purses. Girls carry things in purses that they actually need and this policy shows little sensitivity to that. Why not simply have a bag check for all attendees, regardless of age, something similar to what is in place at theme parks like Disney?
Interesting health news in a community magazine I read. The article contains a spring 2009 survey of high school students. “27% of students said they had been to a party during the past month at which parents permitted teen alcohol use.” Check it out at http://www.SHAKERONLINE.COM