The Kamloops-Thompson school district is considering a revised drug and alcohol policy that would include rules for using breathalyzers on students during school hours and school-sanctioned events.

The current policy states that students can be punished for "exhibiting physical characteristics" of inebriation such as "odours" and "affected behaviour," but says nothing of testing blood alcohol content.

Education board chair Denise Harper told ctvbc.ca that breathalyzers have been used in district high schools for years, but it's time the practice was properly governed by policy.

"This is basically intended to bring some coherence, to make sure that the instruments being used are reliable, that there's proper training and to spell out the process," Harper said. "It can't be arbitrary."

The revised policy would only allow trained staff to administer the tests if there is reason to believe the student was drinking, such as a complaint from another student.

"We use it judiciously. It's not something that you do casually," Harper said.

The proposed policy amendment was spurred by a controversy in Fort St. James, where two students were suspended after being tested with a device, despite registering an inconclusive result.

The district lacked an official breathalyzer policy, and schools were ordered to stop using the devices until one could be drawn up.

Kamloops-Thompson says breathalyzer machines are used at high schools across Canada, though at least some districts, including those in Victoria, Langley and Hope, shun the practice.

The Vancouver School Board could not be reached for comment.

Drinking during school hours is not very common in Kamloops, Harper said, but became such an issue at school dances that the district stopped hosting them two years ago.

The chair says there has been little opposition to the use of breathalyzer devices, but there is some debate among trustees about the wording of the policy revision.

The section on breathalyzers states that if a student refuses to blow, "staff may rely on such refusal to conclude that a student has been using alcohol, and the student shall then be subjected to the consequences outlined."

Consequences for a first offence include up to five days' suspension.

The board is set to vote on the amendment on Feb. 20.

Have your say: Is there anything wrong with testing students with a breathalyzer, or punishing them for refusing to blow?