As a leader of a student organization, there are certain rules, expectations, and policies you must keep in mind if you plan events involving alcohol for your organization—but you should also consider the ways in which events involving alcohol may create a less welcoming environment for your organization.

Before planning an event involving alcohol, ask yourself some questions:

• Does this event need to have alcohol? Just because an event has involved alcohol in the past does not mean it must always involve alcohol. Keep in mind that people can have different personal, cultural, or emotional concerns with alcohol, and some members of your group may be in recovery. As a student leader, you have an opportunity to make changes that make your organization’s events more inclusive.
• How many of your events, meetings, or other gatherings involve alcohol, or are set in environments where alcohol is present, such as bars? If the answer is “a lot,” this is an opportunity to consider a venue change and rethink your event planning to make sure your event planning includes a mix of activities so everyone feels welcome.
• Why do students participate in your organization? Student organizations provide a place to find a community with similar interests and goals. Make sure your event planning keeps this as the focus—providing ways to connect over common interests instead of over a drink.

If you choose to have an event with alcohol:

• Consider ways that you can make non-drinkers feel safe and included. This includes ensuring a variety of non-alcoholic drink options are available and considering ways to make sure those who do drink alcohol stay in the Social Zone. The Social Zone means that attendees are physically and mentally present in their surroundings, even if they choose to drink. Usually, this means consuming fewer than three drinks at one event.
• Make sure to follow the Student Organization Alcohol Policy (SOAP). According to SOAP, any RSO activity with alcohol must abide by the following:
  • Non-alcoholic beverages and food must be available
  • Prevent consumption of alcoholic beverages by guests under legal age
  • A minimum of two sober monitors for up to 50 total attendees, with one additional sober monitor for each additional 25 attendees
  • Number of attendees may not exceed fire code capacity

Read the full policy.