Harvard College Alcohol Policy

From the Office of Student Life Website:

The overarching purpose of the new College Alcohol Policy is to support “a residential and educational community that is culturally, intellectually, and socially enriching for our students,” and to acknowledge that while alcohol has a role in social activities, its role is ancillary to our mission and purpose as a College.

The proposed changes to the College policy emphasize a multifaceted approach to promoting a safe and healthy social life that will help forge the bonds of fellowship and community at Harvard. Namely, the College supports alcohol education and consistent implementation of policy and practice that prioritizes student welfare. This happens through the work of the House Masters, Resident Deans, and Tutors and Proctors as well as other staff in the College, such as the Office of Alcohol and other Drugs Education (AODS).

It is clear that students are pivotal to positive change in our community, where all begin to embrace the health-conscious use of alcohol. Areas that will remain unchanged by the proposed changes include the Amnesty policy, which has had a positive effect on students’ health and safety. Also, we will continue to support the efforts of peer advisers, such as Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisers (DAPA) and Consent Assault Awareness & Relationship Educators (CAARE), which students’ involved in this process touted as important vehicles for cultural change.

Much of the alcohol policy will remain the same, but some key changes are highlighted below:

All private parties must be registered with and approved by the House. Houses may determine the deadlines and means of submitting registrations provided the following minimum requirements are met:

1. Student hosts must meet with their Tutor prior to hosting their first private party of the academic year.
2. Student hosts must demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of strategies to create safe social environments as well as their understanding of the applicable laws and policies governing alcohol, including responsibilities for social hosts.
3. Student hosts must acknowledge responsibility for compliance with all applicable laws and policies.

Activities that promote high-risk drinking, such as excessive and/or rapid consumption of alcohol, particularly of a competitive nature, are not permitted. It is expected that hosts will plan parties where drinking is not the central activity.

With the approval of the House Master or an authorized designee for House events and College staff for other campus events, kegs are generally permitted in the Houses and at College events, although they continue to be banned at athletic facilities and athletic events. Students must comply with all House or other protocols for registration, storage, and disposal of kegs.

Only beer, wine, and malt beverages may be served at social events on campus. These beverages must not have an alcohol content that exceeds 15 percent.

The service of alcohol at social events on campus may not last longer than five hours.  With the exception of events that are two hours or less, last call must occur 30 minutes prior to the scheduled conclusion of the event and alcohol service must end 15 minutes prior to the scheduled conclusion of the event.

PILOT PROGRAM FOR 2012-2013 permitting mixed drinks at House formals only. During the 2012-13 academic year, the College will permit mixed drinks (drinks containing hard liquor) to be served at House formals held on or off campus only if the following conditions are met:

1. The kinds of mixed drinks to be served must be approved in advance by both the House Masters and the OSL.
2. All drinks containing hard liquor must include mixers and may not contain more than one standard measure of alcohol. Drinks containing more than one type of liquor are not permitted.
3. Professional bartenders from a licensed and insured vendor approved by OSL must be hired to mix and serve drinks.
4. Beer, wine, and malt beverages can be served open bar. Mixed drinks may only be offered for purchase or limited drink ticket system developed and approved by the House Masters and OSL to ensure that appropriate limits are in place.

For more information, please see the full proposed College Alcohol Policy, a final version of which will be in effect after faculty review in the fall of 2012. For more information about the process of revising the policy, please see the communication that was sent to students in February.