Preamble

As members of the Tulane University community, all students, faculty and staff share in the responsibility for creating and maintaining a healthy and productive environment for work and study. The irresponsible use of alcohol adversely affects the University’s commitment to providing an environment of excellence in teaching, research and learning.

The University’s comprehensive approach to addressing alcohol abuse emphasizes:

1. Taking effective steps to create and maintain a productive work place and educational environment for students, faculty and staff.

2. Providing prevention, education and counseling services along with referrals to off-campus treatments facilities as appropriate.

3. Encouraging individuals who are experiencing problems associated with alcohol to seek assessment, counseling and/or treatment voluntarily, with the understanding that this assistance is confidential and will not be used against them.

It is expected that all members of the university community adhere to all applicable state and local laws and Tulane University regulations regarding the sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Summary of Certain State Laws

The following is a summary of certain Louisiana laws regarding the purchase, possession and use of alcoholic beverages:

• It is unlawful for any person under 21 to purchase or publicly possess any alcoholic beverages. Public possession means possession of any alcoholic beverage on any"street or highway or in any public place or any place open to the public, including a club which is de facto open to the public.”
• It is unlawful for any person, other than a parent, spouse, or legal guardian, to purchase on behalf of a person under 21 any alcoholic beverages.
• It is unlawful to sell any alcoholic beverages to any person under 21.
• It is unlawful to falsify a driver’s license or other identification document in order to obtain or attempt to obtain any alcoholic beverages, or to permit someone else to use one’s driver’s license or other identification document to obtain or attempt to obtain any alcoholic beverages.

University Policies

General:

In addition to the requirements of Louisiana law, the university has established policies regarding the possession and use of alcohol.

1. Alcoholic beverages may not be served on Tulane University property or within University facilities without proper permission. The appropriate administrator (university president, vice presidents, deans, directors, or department heads) may grant permission to those persons, groups of persons or organizations in their areas of responsibility. All permissions granted must be consistent with this policy.

2. Alcoholic beverages may only be consumed in designated areas on campus and not in uncontrolled areas such as streets and sidewalks. Service of alcoholic beverages shall be limited to those over the age of 21, while access to alcoholic beverage service areas by those under age 21 shall be monitored.

3. Alcohol manufacturers, distributors or drinking establishments may not advertise in or on university property, including but not limited to residence halls, recreation centers, kiosks or academic buildings. Similarly, university organizations shall not promote alcoholic beverage manufacturers, distributors or drinking establishments other than to announce a university event location.

4. Faculty and staff are also subject to the alcohol and other drug policies contained in their respective handbooks and should familiarize themselves with those policies.

On-Campus Events:

The following rules apply to all members of the university community hosting or sponsoring an event on campus, or at university-recognized functions, at which alcoholic beverages will be served.

1. Timing and location of all events where alcohol is present must be sensitive to the academic mission and needs of the University community. Beginning with the last day of classes and continuing through the close of the final examination period, there may be no student-sponsored events where alcohol is present.

2. Alcoholic beverages may only be served and/or sold by vendors holding a state-issued Alcohol Beverage License, with the exception of official, private functions approved by the senior administrator responsible for the area hosting the event. Both the host of the event and the sponsoring organization are responsible for compliance with this policy and with all applicable state and local laws. The following guidelines concern the serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages during a properly registered event:

• Servers of alcohol shall not consume alcoholic beverages before or during the event.

• Service shall not be provided to any individual without clear evidence of legal age.

• There must be a system in place to ensure that no one who is under 21 years of age is served any alcoholic beverages. Such systems may include, but are not limited to:

a. checking of government-issued picture identification at the entrance (acceptable identification includes a valid driver’s license with photo, a government-issued photo identity card issued to non-drivers, or a passport); University identification cards are not sufficient proof of age

b. use of a wrist band or ink stamp to mark the hands of all persons determined to be of legal drinking age

• Except for registered BYOB events, alcoholic beverages may not be brought into events where alcohol is being served.

3. Servers and hosts should assure that alcohol use at the event is responsible and safe by observing the following guidelines at a minimum:

• The sponsor of an event must maintain a statement of persons and/or groups for whom the event is intended.

• Obviously intoxicated persons are not to be served alcoholic beverages

• Both the host of the event and the sponsoring organization are required to provide, in sufficient quantity throughout the event, food and one or more nonalcoholic beverages, e.g. soda, water, juice, or coffee. If alcoholic beverages are being sold, the nonalcoholic beverage(s) should be available at a reasonable price.

• Drinking games or any activity which encourages or contributes to alcohol overindulgence or abuse, are prohibited.

• Alcoholic beverages over 100 proof are prohibited. Service of alcohol in vats or punch bowls, or as a prize or free award, is also prohibited.

4. Both the host of the event and the sponsoring organization must ensure that all event promotion is responsible and appropriate. Event advertising (e.g., flyers, banners, invitations, T-shirts, signs, etc.) must not overtly or covertly state or imply an invitation to participate in excessive drinking.

5. Hosting or sponsoring organizations must register their events with appropriate authorities as described below:

All hosts or sponsoring organizations must take steps to assure the safety of attendees, including the provision of adequate security, following guidelines and payment schedules issued by and available from the university’s Department of Public Safety. Both the host of the event and the sponsoring organization must abide by all capacity restrictions as established by the State Fire Marshal.

• All students or student organizations planning an event where alcohol will be present must register the event by completing a Social Event Agreement Form (available at http://studentprograms.tulane.edu or the Office of Student Programs) and submitting it to the Office of Student Programs at least five working days prior to the event. All other organizations should register such events with their appropriate administrator at least 5 working days prior to the event. Events in residence halls or fraternity houses must be registered with the Department of Housing and Residence Life. Any students responsible for an event must be present at the event and must have attended a Responsible Hosting Seminar conducted by the Student Health Center or Student Affairs. Each seminar attendee 21 years of age or older will be issued a Hosting Card indicating an understanding of applicable state laws and university policies.

• On-Campus Residences: In addition to the above wles governing on-campus events, the following policies apply to residence halls and on-campus apartments:

1. Anyone under the age of 21 may not possess or consume alcoholic beverages anywhere on campus at any time, including in residence hall rooms or apartments.

2. Students of any age and their guests are not permitted to possess or consume alcoholic beverages in public areas (such as lobbies, hallways, stairwells, balconies, walkways, patios/picnic areas, lounges or other public areas) except at registered events.

3. Possession of kegs, party balls, or other large quantities of alcohol is not permitted in a student’s residence hall room/apartment.

4.Students under the age of 21 may not possess alcoholic beverage containers (whether full or empty) in residence hall rooms or apartments.

5.The purchase, sale, and delivery of alcoholic beverages are expressly forbidden in and around on-campus housing.

6. Students are not permitted to brew alcoholic beverages in the residence halls. This includes the privacy of their rooms, in or around residential areas, and in public areas (such as lobbies, hallways, stairwells, balconies, walkways, patios/picnic areas, lounges or the areas immediately surrounding the residence halls).

7. Open containers of alcohol are not permitted in public areas, including, but not limited to, lobbies, hallways, stairwells, balconies, walkways, patio/picnic areas, lounges, or the areas immediately surrounding the residence halls.

• Fraternity Events: Events held in or by fraternities (which includes all Greek organizations) must also adhere to the Tulane Neighborhood Relations Standards, their respective national fraternity standards and the lnterfraternity or Panhellenic Council regulations.

Off-Campus Events:

This portion of the policy applies to events sponsored or hosted by divisions, departments, and other recognized university organizations, which are conducted outside the university’s campus. Nothing in this policy is intended to prevent a university organization from holding an off-campus event at an establishment that serves alcohol, as long as the consumption of alcohol is not mentioned. All such events where alcoholic beverages will be served are subject to state and local law as well as the university policies set forth above. As all events associated with the university contribute to its reputation and public standing, it is the university’s expectation and requirement that decorum and good judgment will be maintained at all events.

1. University divisions, other recognized organizations, faculty, and staff planning to host events off-campus at which students under the age of 21 will be present:

• are expected to adhere to the same policies as for on-campus events set forth above to assure the safety, security and legality of the event

• must submit a description of the proposed event to the senior administrator with responsibility over the area hosting the event

2. University divisions and other recognized organizations hosting events off-campus at which no students will be present are strongly encouraged to review the same policies and guidelines, bearing in mind the need for responsible event planning and hosting.

Policy Violations and Enforcement:

Faculty and staff members who violate this policy shall be referred to the appropriate dean, director, or department head. Students and student organizations shall be referred to the vice president for Student Affairs, or her designated representative. The university president and his designees are the ultimate authority responsible for enforcing this policy; however, all employees and students are responsible for adhering to these policies.

Entertainment Expenses

• University policy prohibits reimbursement of expenses incurred for the personal use of alcoholic beverages, as well as for meals, entertainment and bar bills of personal guests.

• Generally, expenses for purchase of alcohol are not reimbursable in connection with meetings or meals where only university employees are present and conducting university business. University officers, Deans and Associate Deans may authorize reimbursement in exceptional circumstances, provided that the business purpose of the meeting is clearly documented. Such approval can take the form of a signature on the reimbursement request. Alcohol expenses may be reimbursed in connection with authorized entertainment and meeting activities where non-employees are present if the nature of these activities is properly documented. Again, reviewers will consider the overall reasonableness of entertainment expenses based on per head calculations.

• Entertainment includes any activity considered to provide amusement or recreation and may include meals and refreshments provided to existing or potential customers, vendors, contractors, existing or potential donors, individuals providing academic consultation and services, as well as in the recruitment of faculty and staff. Such costs must be reasonable, ordinary and necessary. “Ordinary” means that such costs are common and accepted in a field of business, and “necessary” means that such activities are helpful (though not indispensable) for the conduct of business.

Approved by University Senate

May 3, 2004