Qld schools using breathalysers at functions with rise of party culture

Queensland schools are being forced to use breathalysers at functions, following a rise of party culture among teenagers.

Social media has ramped up party culture for Queensland school students.

Queensland schools are being forced to use breathalysers at functions, following a rise of party culture among teenage communities.

It comes as experts warn social media has made it easier for invites to spread quicker with hundreds of teenagers attending parties at a time.

Teacher’s Professional Association Queensland President Scott Stanford said many Year 12 students were of legal drinking age and schools were now putting policies in place to prevent them having alcohol before or at events.

“I’ve only heard about it in the private system, where principals are taking handheld breathalysers to things like formals and school dances to do that check as students are going in,” he said.

Mr Stanford said he had patrolled a school event to check if a student was under the influence of alcohol.

“Towards the end of when I was in the classroom, you would swear they’d (students) come to school after a big night and you couldn’t basically say ‘you’re drunk, go home’ but you had suspicions.”

Mr Stanford said a recent spike in parties may be related to the increased number of households with parents who both work full-time.

“They’ve sort of got a free house to do these parties out of,” he said. “ … kids don’t know the impact of social media so they put it up, post up for their friends to come to a party that’s not a private post and it goes everywhere.”

A wild party in Brisbane this week has made national headlines after a house was damaged. Picture: TikTok.

Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies Director Professor Daryl Higgins said the Brisbane Boy’s College incident could be used as an opportunity for parents and educators to talk to young people about safe and respectful behaviours.

“It’s normal teenage behaviour to want to party and celebrate occasions with friends, but what’s not appropriate is when lines are crossed when it comes to safety and respect for private and public property,” he said.

Prof Higgins said social media had changed the way young people interacted and more education was needed to understandings its impact.

“We know that while it has benefits in keeping young people connected, social media can be another way in which young people seek approval through likes and comments and the attention of their peers by posting outlandish pranks and behaviours designed to shock,” he said.

Australian Psychological Society president Dr Sara Quinn said adolescence was a “critical stage of development” with significant change in the brain to support learning, emotional regulation and decision-making. “When adolescents are engaging in alcohol use, that can disrupt that brain development – and it can actually increase their vulnerability to risk-taking behaviours,” Dr Quinn said.

QASP president Mark Breckenridge said schools had responded to changing community norms.

Originally published as Qld schools using breathalysers at functions with rise of party culture