Pubdate: 9 Oct 1998
Source: Lethbridge Herald (Canada)
Contact:  http://www.lis.ab.ca/lherald/
Author: Craig Albrecht Lethbridge Herald

MAGRATH TEENS MAY HAVE TO FACE BREATHALYZER

MAGRATH (CP) - If students want to go to a dance at Magrath High School,
they may need to pass a breathalyser test.

During the dances, the school in this southern Alberta town will randomly
select students to provide a breath sample before they're allowed in, said
principal Robert Nelson.

Any student who refuses to blow will not be allowed into the dance, Nelson
said of the plan, which is aimed at cutting down on fights.

``If they don't want to blow, they don't come to the dance. That's their
right. They don't have to blow if they don't want to. We're not going to
force them,'' he said.

``We're responsible for those students while they are at our activities. We
feel like we can be a little bit more responsible by making sure that they
haven't been drinking.''

The school will notify parents of students who flunk the breathalyser test,
he said.

A nearby school also uses the device at dances and it has cut down the
number of fights, Nelson said. 
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Checked-by: Mike Gogulski