Mandatory Breathalyzer Test Argument Analysis

In May 2014, Northern Secondary School principal Ron Felsen proposed to implement a mandatory breathalyzer test in order to prevent students from consuming alcohol prior to the prom. However, students believed that the conduct of the breathalyzer test would infringe their constitutional rights. As far as I concerned, the breathalyzer test before gaining entry to prom should not be administer since it will be an invasion of students privacy and dignity. The purpose of the policy of compulsory breathalyzer test is to have a sobering and healthy prom, which means students should not be intoxicated. The legal drinking age is 19 years throughout Canada, except for Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta. The propose of mandatory breathalyzer test put almost every students who
will go to prom under the accusation of underage drinking without any proofs. The skeptical principal Ron Felsen would like to conduct unreasonable search in order to ensure the students' safety, however, none of the students had misbehaved. It is very unfair that every student who goes to prom at Northern Secondary School were assumed to be guilty. Prom could be one of the most important nights for high school students. It should be a memorable and festive evening of glamour and dancing.
More importantly, prom is a rite of passage that leads to one's adulthood. Due to prom's significant meaning for adolescence, students do not want it to be ruined by the breathalyzer test. Northern Secondary School was the host of the prom, therefore they could not turn an blind eye to students who are drinking while attending a school event. In my opinion, the school should implement other proactive actions fight against underage drinking in connection with the prom, rather than conduct breathalyzer test which could violate students freedom and privacy. Furthermore, the school policy that required every student to submit to a breathalyzer test before entering the prom invoked many constitutional concerns. This overbroad approach would let all the students to administer the breathalyzer test even if they are not exhibiting signs of intoxication. I could not picture a line of gowns and tuxedos waiting for the breathalyzer test before gaining their entrance to prom. Each student will perform its breathalyzer test in front of a huge amount of people, included both students and schools staffs, who will all then be aware of the results of the
test. Hence the breathalyzer test could intrude the privacy of individuals. The intent of the breathalyzer test policy is to prevent underage drinking and alcohol-related accidents. However, instead of attending prom, students could go somewhere else to consume alcohol and put themselves in greater risk. To conclude, the approach of breathalyzer test before prom may not accomplish its goal.