In light of the recent Halloween party where teens were caught drinking, Palo Alto High School principal Scott Laurence is reiterating the school’s position on the topic saying that according to school code, the school has limited jurisdiction over anything that relates to an event off campus and out of school hours.

The school opposes teenage drinking on every level, according to Laurence.

"It’s illegal, it’s not something we accept at the high school, and we use a combination of strong rhetoric to limit it as much as we possibly can," Laurence said.

The school is only responsible for students from "doorstep-to-doorstep," Laurence said, meaning when the student leaves his or her house, goes to school, and returns, or "about 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.," Laurence said.

Local media have quoted hosts of the above Halloween party, third grade teacher Lisa Swagerty and her husband, Richard Stovel, saying that they were "trying to create a safe environment for the kids" in which to drink alcohol; however, both lawmakers and Laurence disagree with this concept.

"I don’t support it on a legal basis, on a personal liability basis, on setting a community basis," Laurence said. "It makes me uncomfortable."

In October, Marin County passed a "social host accountability ordinance" that holds a party’s host accountable when there are minors in possession of alcohol. Laurence said that Palo Alto should discuss an emulation of the law.

"It is something the city should do," Laurence said. "It’s more local. The more community support, the better it is. I would love for the city to discuss it."

When asked about drinking during school events, especially as dances are notorious for drunk students, he declared that the figure has always been blown out of proportion. He stated that the suggestion of 80 percent of students attending school dances are under the influence found in a user comment on the – paloaltoonline.com – debate is over the top. According to this figure, that would mean about 600 of the 800 students at the Homecoming Dance on Oct 21 were drunk, which Laurence said is absurd.

"We’re talking in reality two to three percent," Laurence said. "We will find a few students at every dance [under the influence], but considering the massive number of events we hold on campus the numbers are small."