The use, possession, and sale of alcohol on campus and at College functions must comply with state and local laws and ordinances and Colby’s Alcohol Policy. Violations of the laws and policies will result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion and referral for prosecution.

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The possession, use, manufacture, cultivation, sale, or distribution of controlled substances including, but not limited to, marijuana, narcotics, GHB, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, drug paraphernalia, or prescription drugs such as anabolic steroids, Rohypnol, amphetamines, or tranquilizers for which a student does not have a legitimate prescription is strictly prohibited by both College policy and state and federal law. Students found in violation of this policy may be subject to suspension or expulsion and also prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.

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On occasion, vendors may deliver kegs to registered parties in designated lounge facilities. Vendors are responsible for registering all deliveries with the Department of Security prior to delivery. With the exception of kegs for registered parties, College policy prohibits vendors from delivering any alcoholic beverages. Any violators of this policy will be subject to College disciplinary action. Vendors violating this policy will be prohibited from making further deliveries.

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There may be no service of alcohol on campus, at the Spa, or elsewhere, during new student orientation without the permission of the dean of students. Alcohol is prohibited at any social event designated primarily for first-year students and/or sophomores.

Guidelines for the service of alcohol at each facility are the responsibility of the facility supervisor or his or her designee. Policies established by the facility supervisors are to treat all constituent groups of the Colby community equally. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in academic buildings without prior consent of the dean of faculty.

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Maine has very strict operating-under-the-influence laws. Maine law prohibits the consumption of alcohol while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Additionally, Maine law prohibits the consumption of alcohol by the driver and any passengers under age in a motor vehicle. In the state of Maine, a blood alcohol level of .08 percent constitutes being “under the influence.” Although .08 is the number for “operating under the influence,” convictions and fines for operating under the influence have been levied for blood alcohol levels at .05. A slower reaction time, slurred speech, impaired vision, and other signs of intoxication will appear in most individuals significantly before the blood alcohol level reaches .08. In Maine, being found guilty of driving while under the influence for a first-time offender (21 years of age or older) is a class D crime which carries a fine of at least $400, loss of license for 90 days, a licensing reinstatement fee, and an alcohol evaluation and/or treatment as minimum penalties.

A minor found to be operating a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his or her system (or who refuses to submit to the blood or breath test) will lose his or her driver’s license for one year, and, if convicted of OUI, will receive a fine and possible time in jail. Students or guests found operating under the influence at Colby will be reported to local authorities and are subject to Colby sanctions as well.

Any person who is intoxicated can be prevented from driving a motor vehicle by Colby security officers.

Security officers will do everything possible, short of physical constraint, to prevent an intoxicated person from driving. If all fails and the person is determined to drive, local authorities will be notified so an arrest can be made. Any student found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence will normally be required by the dean of students to complete an alcohol education program or receive other appropriate counseling, as well as possible disciplinary action.

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Students who choose to drink alcohol are expected to do so in a safe, responsible, and legal manner. In Maine, as in all states, the drinking age is 21. Underage drinking or providing alcohol to an underage person is illegal in Maine. The irresponsible use of alcohol that leads to disruptive, abusive, or destructive behavior while intoxicated is prohibited; those who engage in such behavior will face severe sanctions including possible suspension. Intoxication will not be accepted as a defense or an excuse for disorderly conduct.

In 1996 the Trustee Commission on Alcohol stated that because drinking games tend to encourage excessive drinking and/or drunkenness, tend to foreclose all other social interaction, and pressure players to drink over their limits, these activities are considered forms of irresponsible drinking.

All participants in a drinking game will be held accountable for the actions of any individual player who engages in misconduct and/or injures himself or herself or others during or after such an event. Participants who have contributed to the intoxication of another will be held accountable and could face severe sanctions. Drinking games are banned in public areas and at registered events.

Active encouragement of underage drinking and active encouragement of intoxicated individuals to consume substantial amounts of alcohol, a common element in many drinking games, is against Colby policy and could be considered evidence of “Reckless Service of Liquor” under the Maine Liquor Liability Act. This could make the sponsor of a drinking game and the host of the party liable under Maine law for up to $250,000 in damages, plus medical expenses, and jail time should one of the participants in the game cause damage or injury to a third party, even after leaving the game, or sustain injuries to himself or herself.

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Hard alcohol can be particularly dangerous in that it is often difficult to gauge its rapid negative effects. Students sponsoring events with hard alcohol should be aware of the elevated dangers of over-consumption.

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Kegs are permitted only with appropriately completed event forms in designated lounge spaces or other approved locations. Kegs are not permitted in any other residence hall space, such as individual rooms, quads, suites, hallways, laundry rooms, or roofs. Kegs are not allowed outdoors without permission of the director of student activities, the director of security, and the director of buildings and grounds. A maximum of 10 registered kegs are permitted on campus on Friday and Saturday nights. At the official end of social functions with alcohol, any keg(s) remaining either full or partially full must be moved and stored in the Security Office in Roberts Building. To register a party with or without alcohol, please inquire at the Office of Student Activities.

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Outdoors: Any student carrying an alcoholic beverage out of doors on Colby property may be fined $100.

Indoors: Students will be fined $100 for taking alcohol into or out of a registered function or social gathering or for possessing alcohol not provided by the hosts. Alcohol consumption is not allowed in entryways, hallways, bathrooms, elevators, laundry rooms, bike rooms, trunk rooms, custodial closets, clubrooms, or other space outside of assigned rooms. 

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Students must have completed a Colby Party Host Training Session before hosting an event. For more information, contact the Office of Student Activities or visit  http://www.colby.edu/administration_cs/studentactivities/partyhost.cfm.  Faculty and staff are not able to serve as party hosts for student functions on campus where alcohol is available.

For more information on scheduling events, see Event Regulations and Procedures.

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General Information:

• Parties with alcohol may only take place in designated first floor lounges (see Appendix VI).
• Each hall has a substance-free lounge.
• Parties with alcohol can only be held one night of the weekend per hall.
• Parties are not allowed in individual rooms or suites, but small, social gatherings are allowed.
• Kegs are not allowed in individual rooms or suites. A completed scheduling form is considered a contract, any breach of which is regarded as a violation of alcohol policy.
• Public advertising of the event must not include the mention of alcohol.
• The number of guests must be restricted to the legal fire capacity.
• Appropriate signs outlining alcohol policy must be placed at the event.
• Alternate beverages and food must be provided in sufficient quantity.
• Drinking games are banned in public areas.
• Parties that feature different drinks in various locales and revolve around the concept of “Around the World” are not permitted.
• Alcohol cannot be given as a prize for contests, games, scavenger hunts, or other such activities.
• Student hosts are responsible for the immediate cleanup of the party area following the event and any damages. Sponsors will be billed for any extra cleanup and pay a fine equal to 25 percent of the cost of that cleanup.

Individual Rooms:

• Because individual rooms and suites are not spacious enough to accommodate large social events with alcohol, kegs are not permitted in rooms or suites.
• Small private gatherings not to exceed 12 guests in a single, double, or triple or 18 guests in a quad, five-person, or six-person, may occur in individual residence hall rooms.
• Care should be taken to ensure that the fire capacity of the space is not exceeded and that noise does not bother other residents. Additionally, the gathering cannot extend beyond the individual room, suite, or apartment.

Locations:

• Upper floors are party-free areas so that study and sleep will not be impeded.
• Parties can be held in designated first-floor or basement lounges (see Appendix VI).
• The consumption of alcohol is forbidden at campus athletic events.
• Substance-free halls for 2007-08 are East Quad, Mary Low, Pierce, and Williams.

Timing:

• Parties may only occur on Friday nights after 5 p.m. and Saturdays after noon.
• No residence hall can have more than one social event where alcohol is served on any single weekend.
• Social events in hall lounges involving alcohol must be scheduled by 4:30 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the weekend the event is being held.

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In an effort to create an atmosphere that ensures that students will receive needed medical assistance for alcohol-related matters, the following protocol has been designed:

• Colby Emergency Response and Security, when called, will assess the situation and determine the level of care needed. For serious matters, the student will be transported to the emergency room at MaineGeneral Medical Center by Security or Delta ambulance. If Security and CER determines that medical care is needed, and if the student should refuse treatment, then the dean on call will be notified.
• For those cases that involve vandalism and alcohol, the dean’s office will be notified.
• For students transported to the emergency room, the staff on call will be alerted.
• Intoxication will not be accepted as a defense or an excuse for disorderly conduct.

The College reserves the right to alert parents of alcohol intoxication cases.

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