Pre-prom plans aim to prevent drinking
Students participate in a prom week event, using DUI goggles, to experience the feeling of being drunk and performing cognitive actions. This activity is part of the school’s effort to keep students safe at prom by preventing student drinking.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
With prom in two days, upperclassmen are making plans for the big night–and so are the prom organizers.
During lunches this week, students were able to try on “DUI goggles,” which simulate the effects of drunkenness. Additionally, police at prom will have breathalyzers on hand to test any attendees that appear to have been drinking, according to junior class sponsor Kim Finnegan.
“Usually, the kids are pretty well-behaved and don’t have any problems, but you just want to make sure they’re safe,” Finnegan said. “There are kids [who drink] from time to time, but we usually catch them before they go into the dining room and be a detriment to the event.”
Senior Aleena Voorhees said that the breathalyzers are a good idea.
“People shouldn’t be getting drunk at a school function,” Voorhees said. “It’s good to keep it safe for everybody and have a better time with people who don’t want to drink.”
Freshman Bryan Lukas said that students will still be likely to drink because of peer pressure.
“People are so centered on what they’re doing, they’re not going to be scared off by some cops,” Lukas said.
According to Finnegan, punishments for drinking at prom can continue after the fact.
“If it’s a minor problem, it’s usually handled by the school, or if it escalates, then it has to be handled by Orange County police, but we don’t anticipate having a problem that escalates to that level,” Finnegan said.
Overall, Finnegan said that the goal is to keep everyone safe.
“It’s a prom,” Finnegan said. “We’re not trying to get kids arrested.”
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