This policy statement has been developed by the Nipissing University Management Group as a replacement for the Campus Alcohol Policy of November 2, 1990. Largely, it reflects current practice with additional precautions and standards incorporated where necessary. It is intended to provide a base for annual review and revisions, as necessary.

Purpose:

Campus alcohol policies are intended to guide practices relating to alcohol use in order to achieve the following:

Promote responsible attitudes and choices regarding alcohol use among members of the University community, providing educational programs and access to resources for those concerned about their alcohol use.

Establish the criteria under which user groups, stakeholders or organizations may operate under the University's liquor license.

Educate individuals or groups choosing to hold events on campus or in conjunction with the university in order to ensure that all legislation pertaining to events where alcohol is being consumed is properly understood and strictly adhered to.

Ensure that all service and consumption of alcohol in licensed establishments on campus conform to the provisions of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario, as well as policies and procedures specific to "The Wall".

A balance of programs so that needs of all patrons will be adequately addressed.

Promote awareness of the effects of use and abuse of alcohol.

Promote responsible drinking behaviour.

"Nipissing University has an obligation to ensure that all legal requirements are followed and that the best practice procedures are in place to safeguard the well being of those present at all Nipissing's sanctioned events where alcohol is served."

This policy supports the responsible use of alcohol at well-managed, licensed facilities and University sponsored or sanctioned events.

Alcohol use is often an accompaniment to recreation and socializing in the society in which the University operates.

Students represent a cross-section of our population (e.g. they are not always of legal drinking age); they may be abstainers, or may be social/responsible drinkers or even problem drinkers.

Well managed facilities, along with policies and procedures that are consistently enforced, provide an environment that encourages responsible drinking and discourages risk-taking behaviours.

On-campus facilities offer opportunities to encourage responsible choices regarding alcohol use.

Consumption of Alcohol on Campus

Preamble: There are three contexts associated with alcohol use on campus that are reflected in this policy.

Residences: subject to Nipissing University Residence Alcohol Policy.

On-Campus licensed events and locations (including licensed areas in the Student Centre): promotes responsible drinking and offers opportunities that encourage responsible choices regarding alcohol use to students, staff and the general public.

Off-Campus events at which alcohol is an accompaniment.

All service and consumption of alcohol on the campus must conform to the provisions of the Liquor Control Board and Liquor Licence Act of Ontario.

Normally, only designated agents of the license holders (The Wall in the Student Centre and Conference Services in the rest of the Campus) may serve alcohol on campus. Use of donated alcohol products (e.g. for a wine tasting event) must be cleared through the appropriate contact person (see Item V, Section A, Sub-section 6).

Consumption of alcohol by persons under the age of 19 is illegal and is subject to University discipline under the "Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities" in addition to legal actions imposed under the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario.

Alcohol may not be consumed in public areas of the campus except in designated "licensed" areas (See Appendix A "Liquor Licence for Nipissing University"). Special events in areas not regularly designated may be approved by the licence holder (Vice-President, Finance and Administration). Approval may take as long as ten weeks. Requests for approval should be made as early as possible through the Vice-President, Finance and Administration.

Student events at which alcohol will be served must have prior approval of the Vice-President, Finance and Administration (events in the Student Centre excepted). Requests for approval should be initiated at least 3 weeks in advance of the event in order to ensure both the facilities and the license is in place.

Consumption of Alcohol off-Campus at University Sponsored Events:

No individual shall use the name of the University or any of its departments will use the catering endorsements to operate an event unless given prior written approval by the Vice-President, Finance and Administration.

Departments of the University who wish to host or otherwise organize dances, banquets, and other events at which alcohol will be served are encouraged to consider one of the on-campus venues available for these functions.

Individuals who wish to organize an event on campus should call Conference Services or the Student Centre Entertainment Manager.

If an off-campus venue is preferred, organizers should discuss liability issues with either the Vice-President, Finance and Administration or the Executive Director of Student Affairs.

Advertising of Alcohol Events:

Advertising on Student Union (NUSU) bulletin boards and bulletin boards in the residences must comply with the Advertising guidelines of the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario.

The University reserves the right to remove any form of advertising for off-campus alcohol events. Advertising must conform to the following:

Approved for posting by NUSU on NUSU boards;

May not include the name "Nipissing University" anywhere except as in IV.A above. Specifically, off-campus bars may not advertise "Nipissing University Nights" or similar events;

May not advertise any type of promotion prohibited by applicable laws or regulations.

Promotions and Inducements:

In accordance with the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) "Principles Concerning Alcohol Promotions and Inducements", Nipissing University has adopted the following:

In its dealings with alcohol manufacturers and their agents, the university conforms to a set of principles concerning the types of promotions, advertising and sponsorships that we will allow, and we apply those principles consistently and uniformly to all manufacturers and their agents.

Nipissing University conforms to a set of principles regarding the ways in which it will acknowledge the sponsorship, by alcohol manufacturers, of events or activities on its campus, and we apply those principles uniformly and consistently to all manufacturers. These principles, at a minimum, are dictated by the current law regarding promotions, inducements and advertising.

No employee of the University will personally accept gifts of money, product or any other material inducement from an alcohol manufacturer for personal gain.

No employee of the University, nor the Student Union, nor the Student Centre will accept gifts of alcohol or promotional items from manufacturers, except as permitted by the regulations of the Liquor Licence Act and the LLBO directives.

The University will allow only registered agents of liquor manufacturers to represent those manufacturers on campus.

All promotions by beer, wine, and liquor manufacturers and their agents must be cleared through the designated contact person acting on behalf of the license holder.

Contact person for NUSU is the Student Centre General Manager for advertisements and promotions relating to events in the Student Centre.

Contact person for Nipissing University is the Manager of Conference Services for advertisements and promotions relating anywhere else on Campus.

Staff Training:

Student Centre Staff and Conference Services Personnel will complete the "SMART SERVE" program or an approved equivalent within 30 days of commencing employment. The above Personnel must conform to guidelines set out in the respective employment guidelines.

All Residence Life Staff will complete the Residence Staff Training Program developed by the Director of Residence and Conference Services.

All Student Security personnel will complete a training program (SMART SERVE) or an approved equivalent.

Alcohol Education and Services:

Annually, the Student Affairs Office will review plans for alcohol awareness programming by various campus offices in order to assure that a satisfactory level of activity will occur each year.

Educational programs for the campus community are conducted by some or all of the following:

Office of Student Affairs

NUSU

Health Services

Residence

Human Resources Office

Campus Health and Safety Committee

Department of Athletics

Other Academic departments

Student Centre

Nipissing University encourages other offices to develop programs and services and may provide direct financial assistance within the limits of its resources.

Many of the above offices or organizations will conduct campus-wide media campaigns (posters, brochures, and newspaper ads) throughout the year.

Residences will conduct media campaigns and awareness programs within residences throughout the year.

Problems related to alcohol use:

The services of the Counselling Centre and of Health Services are available to students who are experiencing problems related to alcohol use. Referrals to community agencies can be arranged through these offices. Residence Staff, Student Centre Staff, Conference Services Staff, and Security Staff must be oriented to these services as part of their training.

Any student whose behaviour violates the standards of conduct set out in the "Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities" (Appendix C) is subject to discipline under the Code. The following principles guide disciplinary actions for conduct related to drinking:

Intoxication is never grounds for leniency.

Fighting and/or other physical violence in the Student Centre -please see Student Centre Policy and Training Management, Appendix B.

Actions resulting in damage to property will require payment of the cost of damages in addition to whatever sanctions are imposed under the code.

Misconduct in Nipissing Residences related to drinking may result in suspension from university events. Residence sanctions as well as those incorporated in the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities may be applied. (See Appendix D "Residence By-laws").

In extreme cases, misconduct related to drinking may result in suspension or expulsion from the University (for specific licence violations, please refer to the Student Centre Policy –Appendix B, for university wide discipline, please refer to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities –Appendix C).

Any student who signs in guests to any licenced area/function is responsible for the actions of their guests. If a guest's conduct is unacceptable, the "hosting" student is subject to disciplinary actions (for specific licence violations, please refer to the Student Centre policy –Appendix B, for university wide discipline, please refer to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities –Appendix C).

Adopted: Board of Governors Resolution # 2004-04-08

Revised: March 3, 2004