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The use and misuse of alcoholic
beverages has become the focus of a great deal of legal activity.
Student organizations that sponsor social activities which involve
the use of alcohol are particularly vulnerable to lawsuits when
accidents or injuries occur. The increased attention to alcohol’s
role in injuries and date rape, together with the greater tendency
toward litigation, make it imperative for student organizations to
manage themselves with extreme care and caution.
Should something happen at your event, your organization could face
legal ramifications that extend well beyond your organization.
Careful pre-planning and preparation for your social event will
reduce the risk you face, but you could still be held liable.
The following Alcohol Management Checklist is meant to provide you
with awareness as well as a way of monitoring your planning process
and event. Following are some things to consider before your
event:
- Alcohol will not be the primary focus of the event.
- A means of financing the event (not collecting money at the
door) has been determined and implemented.
- A majority of your social expenditure is being used toward the
program activities, with alcoholic beverages being a privilege
purchase.
- Advertising for the event does not condone alcohol abuse.
- Alcoholic beverages are not being used as an enticement
(reward, door prizes, benefit of membership).
- In planning the event, individuals have been assigned formal
responsibilities and authority, specifically regarding behavioral
management and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
- Specific individuals have been assigned in advance to be sober
monitors during the event.
- A time duration for distribution and consumption of alcoholic
beverages has been determined.
- Restrictions have been made regarding the total amount of
alcohol to be available at the event.
- A maximum number of participants have been determined and
planned for.
- If alcoholic beverages are being distributed, transportation to
and from the event will be provided.
- In the case of a large event where alcoholic beverages will be
consumed, security has been hired.
Following are some things to monitor during the event:
- All participants will be required to show proof-of-age prior to
their admission.
- If going to an establishment, alcohol will be monitored by the
establishment’s employees.
- Non-alcoholic beverages will be offered and easily accessible
in reasonable quantities during the event.
- Non-salty food will be provided throughout the evening.
- The distribution of alcoholic beverages will only be handled by
designated servers of legal drinking age.
- Guests who arrive at the event intoxicated will be asked to
leave or escorted from the premises.
- Uninvited guests will be refused admission into the event.
- Event planners have shared pertinent information regarding the
event with neighbors (i.e., noise, parking, trash...) and have
determined means of resolution to these potential problems.
- The entire organization has been formally informed of the
planning process and procedures for the event.
- All appropriate procedures (off-campus event form, contracts,
etc.) have been completed.
- A formal evaluation process has been determined (who, what,
when, etc.) regarding the planning process and program.
This checklist should be employed for all social events you sponsor
that have alcohol present. If these points are addressed, the risk
of something negative happening are greatly reduced; and if
something should happen, you have taken proven steps to reduce your
organizational and personal liability.
[from the LSI Resource Series]
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