Luigi59
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Mids whose blood alcohol content exceeds .08 percent are “flagged for intervention from their chain of command.” That could mean anything from substance abuse treatment to disciplinary action, according to academy policy.
Excellent idea.
Over the past two years, mids have been subjected to Breathalyzer sweeps designed to detect and deter alcohol abuse, a dragnet typically administered on Friday and Saturday evenings for maximum effect, documents show.
These sweeps, as well as targeted tests after misconduct, are a central weapon in the academy’s successful campaign to drive down alcohol abuse and serve as a model for the fleetwide Breathalyzer tests set for adoption this year. As with the fleet rollout, officials stress that the tests are preventative, not punitive. But at Annapolis, whether or not a mid gets in trouble for failing a breath test is largely up to officials’ discretion.
The academy’s gains have been substantial. The number of “major conduct” offenses, the most serious category of misconduct, has fallen from approximately 400 in the 2010-2011 school year to roughly 155 in the school year that finished in May, a 61 percent drop, according to school figures. Similarly, violations of the honor concept — such as plagiarism, lying, cheating or stealing — have slipped from roughly 190 to 160 over the same period.
When it comes to Breathalyzer tests, mids try their best to evade them, one senior said, especially those who are underage. Methods include texting classmates back on campus to find out if Breathalyzer tests are taking place.
Excellent idea.