Queen’s University Residences Alcohol Policy

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 Introduction 

Queen’s University is committed to fostering a campus environment that promotes the adoption of health-enhancing attitudes and behaviours.  With respect to alcohol, we endorse policies and programs that promote responsible choice. 

The goals of this policy are as follows:

Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with, understanding, and complying with the regulations regarding alcohol in residence.  These are contained in the Community Standards in Residence Handbook.

The policy is divided into several sections. 

Section 1 – deals with the consumption of alcohol in residence, sale of alcohol, underage drinking, profit, and general information

Section 2 – outlines guidelines for organized functions involving the consumption of alcohol

Section 3 – offers definitions of the terms used in this policy

Section 4 – outlines supporting information documents 

 

SECTION 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION

Residents

Residents of legal drinking age, nineteen (19) years of age or older, and who choose to consume alcohol are required to abide by the Liquor License Act of Ontario and Community Standards in Residence Handbook.

         

Queen’s Residences abide by all federal and provincial regulations, including the Liquor License Act of Ontario; thus possession or consumption of alcohol by residents under the age of nineteen (19) is not permitted anywhere in Residence.  Residents who do not abide by this regulation may face sanctions under Community Standards in Residence Handbook.

 

Consumption of Alcohol within Residence

Residents of legal age may consume alcohol in private or semi-private areas.  Private areas are defined as a residence room or suite, while semi-private areas are defined as floor common rooms.  Residents are expected to consume alcohol responsibly and are not permitted to participate in games and/or activities that promotes the consumption of alcohol, nor is a resident able to possess any large container designed for the mass consumption of alcohol.  Due to safety reasons, beer bottles are prohibited in residence (refer to Community Standards in Residence for more details). 

The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in public areas.  Public areas include, but are not limited to hallways, stairwells, residence front desk areas, foyers, washrooms, elevators, study rooms, building common rooms, and the public outdoor grounds surrounding residence buildings. 

Open alcohol is not permitted in public areas.  Students who wish to transport alcohol to an area where alcohol is permitted must do so discreetly in a closed, non-transparent container. 

Guests

Resident guests are required to abide by the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario and Community Standards in Residence Handbook.  It is the responsibility of the resident host to inform their guests regarding the rules and regulations of Residence.  Hosts are responsible for the actions of their guests.

 

Sale of Alcohol and Underage Drinking

The direct or indirect selling of alcohol is illegal and cannot take place in Residence. Selling includes, but is not limited to, charging admission at the door on the promise of free liquor, buying a cup with the promise of having it be used for alcohol, etc. 

As the legal drinking age in the Province of Ontario is nineteen (19), it is illegal to serve or to provide alcohol to a person under nineteen (19) years of age.

 

Profits

If a profit is made at a residence event through any admission price or sales not related to alcohol, it must be submitted to the Treasurer of the House Council.  The monies are to be used by the house council at their discretion, for instance charitable donations, the sponsorship of alcohol awareness activities or charities associated with the Queen’s Community Impact initiative. 

 

SECTION 2 – ORGANIZED ALCOHOL FUNCTION

An organized alcohol function includes any function that is pre-planned and involves the consumption of alcohol in residence.  Residents who are of legal age and organizing an event at which alcohol may be present must abide by the guidelines outlined in this policy.   The Activity Leader must obtain the approval for the activity from both the House President and the Residence Life Coordinator at least 72-hours prior to the function.  There are two types of organized alcohol functions in residence: 1) Floor Activity 2) House Common Room Activity.  Any Floor activity involving alcohol must meet the conditions set out below before approval by Queen's University Residences, the MCRC or JRHC.  In some circumstances, additional conditions may be required.

 

Responsibilities

Activity Leader

The Activity Leader of any special event must follow the approval process (as described in the Application to Host an Event, Appendix I) and must take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all participants.  An Activity Leader(s) must follow the guidelines below and is responsible for:

a)       understanding and complying with all relevant components of this policy;

b)      obtaining proper approval for the activity;

c)       ensuring that sufficient supervision and support is present;

d)      ensuring that participants understand that they are responsible for their actions

e)       organizing support for dealing with any individual who becomes intoxicated or injured;

f)        ensuring clean-up provisions have been made for prior to 11:00am the following day;

g)       in the case where damages cannot be traced to an individual participant, being held responsible for the full cost of the damages; and,

h)      ensuring that the laws of the land and the rules and regulations of Queen’s University Residences are followed by all participants.

 

Residence Representative

A residence-organized activity involving the consumption of alcohol must have the involvement of at least one of the Residence Representatives described below.  A Residence Representative’s primary function is to monitor the event.  Residence Representatives are authorised to act in the event that a organized activity is not being conducted in compliance with the outlined procedures, or if the activity presents a danger to the safety of participants or property. 

 

A Residence Representative must:

§         hold a position as a Residence Facilitator, House President, Don or Executive member;

§         be a minimum of 18 years old;

§         hold a valid CPR and First Aid Certificate; and,

§         have basic training managing the risks associated with alcohol. 

 

Normally, the ratio of Residence Representatives to residents should be no less than 1:15.  The number of required Residence Representatives might be adjusted if the House President and the Residence Life Coordinator judge that, due to the nature of the event, it is appropriate.  In some cases, other University positions (e.g., a Queen’s Student Constable) may be acceptable as a Residence Representative, subject to approval by the House President or Residence Life Coordinator or the Director of Residence Life. 

In the event that the Activity Leader(s) fails to adhere to this policy, the Residence Representative will be responsible for reminding the Leader of this policy, and if necessary, terminate the activity.  If the Residence Representative refuses to perform this function, then the House President or the signatory Residence Life Coordinator may take such action.  It is understood that since the ultimate responsibility for student safety lies with the University, the Director of Residence Life will have final authority. 

The Residence Representative is expected to refrain from consuming alcohol for the duration of the activity. 

The Residence Representative must ensure that:

§         the area in which the event is to take place is safe; and,

§         those who become intoxicated are taken care of;

§         no activities in the area that are unsafe;

 

Application to Host an Event

Activity Leaders who wish to organize a special activity must complete the Application to Host an Event form (Appendix I) and submit it to their House President and Residence Life Coordinator for approval. 

Record Keeping

All Council members should forward all forms to the MCRC or JRHC office.  All Dons should forward their forms to their Residence Life Coordinator.  All Applications to Host an Event will be kept on file for a minimum of five years.

 

Policies and Practices

In order to ensure that the majority of the residents has agreed to the activity, either the number of participating rooms on the floor must be 50% or a combination of rooms participating and rooms agreeing to the activity must be 50%. 

All rooms registered as participating and any rooms or residents that subsequently join the party must register with the Residence Representative.  Failure to do so will result in the request to join the event being declined. Rooms leaving the party must notify the Residence Representative before they close their doors: if notification is not given, those rooms may be reopened.

 

Alcohol

Each participant is to bring their own alcohol to the even which they have purchased from authorized outlets.  

 

Admission to the Party

Residents are limited to one guest each for whom the host is willing to take full responsibility. This is to ensure that the number of guests does not exceed the number of residents.

 

Maximum Number of Persons in the Area, Floor, or Wing

In order to ensure that an area, floor or wing does not become overcrowded, a participant limit has been set, which is based on the number of rooms listed as participating in the event, multiplied by five (5). However, the number of persons in attendance (including guests) may not exceed twice the number of residents who live in the area, floor or wing.

 

Quiet hours

As outlined in Community Standards in Residence Handbook, Quiet Hours will be in effect. 

Sunday – Thursday Quiet Hours begin at 11 p.m.

Friday – Saturday Quiet Hours begin at 1 a.m. 

Please note that community standards are to be maintained at all times throughout the event.

 

Decorations

Decorations at functions must be fireproof in accordance with the Fire Safety Act.

 

Sponsorship

Complementary alcohol or other incentives from sales representatives of breweries, distilleries, etc. may not be accepted. 

 

Additional Recommendations for House Common Room Events

Any House Common Room Event involving alcohol must meet the conditions set out below before approval by Queen's University Residences, the MCRC or JRHC.  In some circumstances, additional conditions may be required. 

The basic requirements for House Common Room events involving alcohol include all those previously stated in this policy, in addition to the following: 

At the end of the event, the alcohol brought by guests cannot be returned to them at the time of their departure but must be stored and returned to them the following morning at a time set by the organizer that will be no earlier than 9:00 a.m. 

 

SECTION 3 - DEFINITIONS

Activity Leader - is responsible and accountable for the organization of an activity, understanding and ensuring that the event is carried out in accordance with this policy.   

Application to Host an Event – a document that must be completed by an Activity Leader before approval for a special event will be given (Appendix I). 

Participants - are residents and their invited guests.  Residents are fully responsible for their actions and those of their guests and are liable for any damages caused. 

Person in Authority - is the person responsible for the classification and approval of an activity. 

Residence Representative - is responsible for monitoring the activity, ensuring the safety of participants and is authorized to act in the event that an activity is not being conducted in compliance with this policy. 

Please refer to the Policy Statement on Organized Events for other definitions not listed in this policy, but defined in that document.

 

SECTION 4 – OTHER RESOURCES