A $700 passive breathalyzer device introduced last week to enforce a policy of zero-tolerance for under-age alcohol consumption at the TAGS Teen Club was cost-shared by the Weyburn Police Service and the Weyburn Youth Centre, which operates the club.

Both organizations say they stand to gain from use of the easy-to-use device to prevent problems at the club.

"You just push one button and hold it in front of a person while they are talking and it will show a reading," said Brian Hopfe, executive director of the club, on Friday. "It's very sensitive," he said.

In the past, the club has experienced problems with youths drinking before they came to the club, said Hopfe. In the past year and a half, the problems have been reduced because of a person placed at the door to check, but this device will reduce it even more, he said.

"Use of the device shows parents their kids can come to the centre. It's a safe place to be." Hopfe said the club attracts as many as 80-100 young people on a typical Saturday night. The club operates on about $100,000 worth of private donations each year.

Weyburn Police Service Const. Dana Pretzer said the club and the monitoring device are both good crime prevention measures. "Since TAGS opened, it's given young people a place to go and reduced both loitering on the downtown streets and vandalism."

"We've noticed the difference," he said. "TAGS gives them an activity."

Hopfe said the Weyburn Youth Centre now wants to raise funds to built a skateboard park. Skateboarding is banned in the downtown area.