Massachusetts honour student Erin Cox was punished for driving her drunken friend home from a party. (Photo via ABC News)

A Massachusetts school is finding almost no support after the wide net of its zero tolerance drinking policy swept up an honour student who was driving a drunk friend home.

A friend called twelfth grade North Andover High School student Erin Cox earlier this month and asked for a ride home from a party because she was too drunk to drive, according to ABC News.

But the volleyball captain wasn't the only one on her way to the party full of underage drinkers; police arrived shortly afterward, arrested several teens and warned many others, including Cox, of future punishment for drinking, the Boston Herald reported.

Cox's high school took away her position as captain and suspended her for five games, even though a police officer wrote a statement saying she had been sober at the party. Cox's mother, Eleanor, tried to have the punishment reversed using a lawsuit, but a judge ruled the decision was outside of the court's jurisdiction, according to CNN. The broadcaster reported her family will take further legal action, saying they hope it will stop the school from punishing any other students for helping out a friend in need.

[ Related: High School misspells its own name on yearbook ]

Angry members of the public have taken to social media, using the hashtag #IStandWithErinCox on Twitter, and columnists in several news outlets have criticized the school's decisions.

What is N Andover HS thinking? Why punish a girl for doing the RIGHT thing! Police confirm she wasn't drinking, WTH? #IStandWithErinCox — Jen (@JenRuok365) October 16, 2013

Punishing someone for being a responsible friend... Absolutely insane. #IStandWithErinCox — Bryant Johnston (@Bryant_Johnston) October 16, 2013

Student does right thing in driving her drunk friend home & is punished by her school. What??? http://t.co/H5Pit43aD5 #IStandWithErinCox — Anh Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 16, 2013

@NorthAndoverHS sending the wrong message. Erin you seldom make a bad decision when doing the right thing for others. #IStandWithErinCox — IslandChap (@IslandChap) October 16, 2013

Did North Andover High take its zero tolerance policy too far?