OPO Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
Summary
The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students on College property or as any part of a College-sponsored activity is strictly prohibited.
The risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol are numerous and include physical and mental impairment, emotional and psychological deterioration, and devastating effects on the image of the Outing Club and Outdoor Programs. There are obvious risks, such as poor decision making that can lead to accidents and injury. The abuse of alcohol can cause behaviors that can lead to damage to DOC/OPO facilities including minor and major damage to the facility, and fires that could destroy a cabin or lodge, in addition vomit and other residues of drinking can create unhealthy atmosphere in any facility.
In addition, alcohol and other drug abuse puts the user at considerable health risk, which can include nausea, vomiting, cancer, liver damage, elevated blood pressure, psychotic episodes, hallucinations and, in some cases, death. In addition to the risk to the abuser of illicit drugs and alcohol are the risks to other students and the public.
Individuals whose performance is impaired as a result of use or abuse of drugs or alcohol (either on or off campus); who illegally use or abuse drugs or alcohol on campus; who violate any provision of the Standards of Conduct or the Student Alcohol Policy or Drug Policy are subject to severe sanctions. These can include loss of leader privileges, expulsion from the DOC and other college sanctions.
Events/Activities where Alcohol consumption is never permitted
- During any portion of DOC Trips
- During competitions
- In or around water
- While participating in adventure activities
- While doing paid or volunteer work for the Outing Club or Outdoor Programs
- While riding in a vehicle
Leadership and Training
Outdoor Programs staff works with student leaders to educate them on alcohol and other drug policies and to help them understand the ramifications of alcohol abuse on the club’s reputation. Club partners review and discuss alcohol policies with each new generation of student leaders. Clear lines are drawn on where alcohol consumption may be permitted and where it is never permitted.
Student Alcohol Policy
Outdoor Program’s primary goals in this area remain educational ones: to develop alcohol guidelines that are clear, readily understood, consistent, and equally applicable to all students; to create a non-coercive social environment for those who choose not to drink; to promote moderation, safety, and individual accountability for those who choose to drink; and to maintain a community where the effects of alcohol abuse and the problems of behavior associated with it are openly discussed. Therefore, all members of the community need to be mindful of their responsibility to lend assistance to others in need of help because of a problem relating to alcohol. Also, the Board of Trustees has affirmed its commitment to eliminate the abuse and unsafe use of alcohol at Dartmouth and continues to endorse the focus on alcohol education and counseling in order to provide a safe environment for those who choose to drink alcohol.
All students should be aware of the College’s student policy on alcoholic beverages and of the liquor laws of the State of New Hampshire. Violation of these regulations or laws usually result in disciplinary action as described elsewhere (See Standard of Conduct IV, Alcohol and Other Drug Program, and Alcohol Laws of the State of New Hampshire).
The specific policies that follow apply to all Dartmouth students on or off campus. They also apply in connection with student programs, events, and activities of the College and its recognized student organizations.
- Possession, consumption or distribution of alcoholic beverages to individuals under the legal drinking age is a violation of both College policy and of New Hampshire law. In the State of New Hampshire, the legal drinking age is 21. Purchasing alcohol for an individual under 21, either by someone over 21 or by someone under 21 through the use of false identification is prohibited.
- Public intoxication is prohibited.
- Serious or repeated violations of this regulation will also result in a referral to the College Health Service.
- The health and safety of members of the Dartmouth community are the primary concerns of the College. The Department of Safety and Security will assist those individuals who abuse alcohol by facilitating transport to emergency facilities at the hospital or to the College Health Service or by taking other protective measures. Students are expected to inform Safety and Security when assistance is needed.
- Also see Alcohol Policy XI “Good Samaritan Policy.”
- Providing an alcoholic beverage to an obviously intoxicated person is prohibited.
- Students of legal drinking age may drink in their rooms, may drink in the
common spaces of residential facilities (unless alcohol is present and there
are 10 or more students, in which case a social event needs to be registered),
and may drink in club spaces/facilities, although other social events there
with alcohol must be registered. Students of legal age may also drink at
registered social events in other designated social spaces. (See Section IX
for a list of locations at which social events may be registered.)
The possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages, and/or the consumption of alcoholic beverages, is specifically prohibited: at intercollegiate, club or intramural athletic events, wherever they are held, whether on or off the Dartmouth campus; and in the vicinity of the Connecticut River in conjunction with water-related activities. - Common sources of alcohol (kegs, half-kegs, quarter-kegs, beer balls or
punches) are not permitted in College residence halls or on the premises of
any College-recognized organizations, without approval from the Office of
Student Life.
Special exceptions to this provision may be granted by the Office of Student Life to undergraduate organizations or activities, and by the Deans of the graduate and professional schools to graduate organizations and activities. - Commercial delivery of alcohol to individual students or student groups at Dartmouth is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, the commercial delivery of alcohol to College residence halls or to any College recognized organization, except for social events that have been properly registered with specific permission for the delivery of alcohol.
- No College funds designated for student programming and activities,
nor COSO, CFS, Undergraduate Society, or other funds designated for
College-recognized student organizations, may be used for the specific
purchase of alcohol. Such funds may be used for training or employment of
servers (see section XI) or for the purchase of food and non-alcoholic
beverages. No alcoholic beverages may be purchased through the treasury of any
College-recognized organization.
Special exceptions to this provision may be granted by the Office of Student Life to undergraduate organizations or activities, or by the Deans of the graduate and professional schools to graduate organizations or activities. - Events at which alcohol may be present must conform to the Social
Event Management Procedures, which may be obtained on line at
www.dartmouth.edu/~sao/semp/, the Office of Student Life, the Office of
Residential Life, and the Department of Safety and Security.
Those procedures state that a social event involving alcohol must be registered unless: (1) the event is confined to the student’s private room on campus and does not affect the immediate environs; or (2) the event occurs in a common area of a residential facility and the attendance is fewer than 10 people; or (3) the event occurs in a club’s physical plants or other designated social space (see list below) and does not exceed 80 people. Additionally, the Department of Safety and Security must be notified of social events with alcohol that are attended by between 40 and 80 people.
Currently designated Outdoor Programs social spaces for holding registered events where alcohol may be served are:- Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
- DOC Cabins
- College Grant Cabins
- Harris Cabin
All individuals and organizations must register social events on-line at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sao/semp/. - At social events where alcohol is present, Dartmouth trained student or other servers or approved professional servers will be required. Health Resources facilitates a training program designed to teach problem-solving related to alcohol use and abuse, knowledge of the College alcohol policy and the alcohol laws of the State of New Hampshire, recognition of emergency situations and elementary emergency training, preparation and clean-up procedures related to serving, and additional information presented by the training staff. A list of approved trained servers is maintained by the Office of Student Life.
Driving Under the Influence
Students who violate the New Hampshire state statutes by driving while impaired will be subject to disciplinary action by Outdoor Programs. The likely sanction for driving under the influence is suspension and loss of club privileges.
