Students Attending High School Football Games in Millard Take Al - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Leah Uko

Omaha (KPTM) – Students going to the Millard School High School vs. Bellevue West football game Thursday night had to pass an Alcohol Sensing Wand Test to get in.

Last year the district started using "Alcoh-Wands" to detect alcohol on students' breath before they attended school dances.

They've gotten successful results since, but want to make sure they cover all school events.

True many years ago students attending high school football games didn't undergo security scanning them for weapons or alcohol.

Back then they didn't find many students trying to bring these substances in.

"I know some people who will fill up their water bottles full of vodka that they can drink at the game," said a Millard South High School student.

"You're always suspicious at a football game," said Millard West High School's principal Dr. Greg Tiemann. "They look like they're having fun, but I'm not sure where they've come from or what they've been up to."

Sometimes Millard school officials perform Alcohol Sensing Wand Tests. Sometimes they don't.

"The objective of this is not to ruin a kid's night. The objective is for the kids to have a fun, drug and alcohol free safe night," said Tiemann.

Tiemann said students should be prepared every time they come to a school event.

"It's a good idea because a lot of people go in there drunk and hopefully some of them will get cut down," said Trey, a student who does not mind taking the wand test.

"If you want to get drunk go home and be drunk," said another student. "Don't bring it out to public. People are watching you and you just look stupid."

Every student is tested.

If alcohol shows up on their test, the school sends them home and suspends them for 19 days.

Parents like Crystal Copeland support the testing—but not on every student.

"I think without suspicion that'd be like going over every car without reason to believe they're swerving or going to get a DUI."

Security tests about 500 to 1,000 students at the home games.

The lines move fast because the results appear in less than 10-seconds.

Since they started using the Alcoh-Wands at high school dances last year—officials say they have seen underage drinking cases go down drastically.

It is possible students may try entering the home games from the visitor's side.

Security hopes they don't. Just in case they try, they are keeping an eye out.

Also if wand results show up positive, students can be arrested and fined.

Since Millard schools started this policy other districts have taken interest in practicing it too.