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Alcohol Guidelines

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Guidelines for Student Group Sponsored Events

An important element of Duke Law School's mission is to prepare students for responsible and productive lives in the legal profession. Key principles described in the Duke Blueprint which are integral to fulfilling this mission encourage students to both " Build Relationships " and " Practice Professionalism ." Duke Law School recognizes that student organizations lead the way in fostering relationships among members of the community through their innovative programming and facilitation of social interaction. This set of guidelines provides a framework for students to both comply with the University's Alcohol Policy and exemplify the level of professionalism consistent with the spirit of the Blueprint.

This policy is intended to serve as a primary guideline to meet minimum standards for event planning. Based on the nature of a proposed event, the Office of Student Affairs reserves the right to require additional measures in excess of the guidelines outlined below to ensure the health and safety of the participants.

For Student Organization-Sponsored Events held on-campus, the following guidelines apply:

  1. There must be at least one Socially Responsible Person ("SRP") per 50 attendees at any event. For events with fewer than 50 attendees, there must be at least one SRP.
  2. A Socially Responsible Person must be a member of the student organization hosting the event. They must not consume alcohol immediately prior to or during the event. They are responsible for overseeing and ensuring the safety of the event and adherence to the University Alcohol Policy, including, but not limited to, (1) ensuring compliance with North Carolina state law; (2) ensuring that alcohol is served in a controlled manner and not freely accessible; (3) ensuring that no one under 21 or who is visibly intoxicated is served; and (4) ensuring that alcohol does not leave the area of the event. For events where security and third-party servers are required, the SRP is charged with monitoring the event to ensure the hired caterer and security complies with these guidelines.  See Rule 4, below.
  3. Events held on Duke University's Campus sponsored by Law School student organizations may not be BYOB events.
  4. For events in which alcoholic beverages are purchased to serve more than 50 people, student organizations must contract with a University approved third-party vendor to acquire and serve alcohol. The third party vendor must use its liquor license and must provide bartenders.
  5. Students organizations are permitted to hire caterers for events with fewer than 50 guests, but are not required to under this policy.
  6. Security  - Sponsoring student organizations must provide security through DUPD for events where alcohol will be consumed held during times when classes are not in session (i.e. on weekends and after 9:00 PM Monday - Friday). For events where alcohol will be consumed with greater than 50 attendees, but scheduled outside of the aforementioned times, security will be required at the discretion of the Dean of Students. Decisions will be made based upon the size and nature of the event.
  7.  At any student organization sponsored event where alcohol is served, both food and non-alcoholic beverages must be provided.
  8. The main purpose of any event may not be the consumption of alcohol and no event may encourage or facilitate excessive drinking.

For School-Sponsored Events held Off-campus, the following policies apply:

  1. Student organizations must contract with a third-party vendor to acquire and serve alcohol. That vendor must have the appropriate liquor license for the event.
  2. With limited exception, no monies associated with Duke University or Duke School of Law (including, but not limited to, DBA funding, or money granted through the Blueprint Fund or Blueprint Benefactors) may be used to purchase alcohol for off-campus events.
  3. Sponsored funds may be used to purchase alcohol for an off-campus event. The law firm or other outside organization providing the funding must have representatives present at the event. The student organization hosting the event must request specific permission for the event, alcohol service, and use of sponsored funds for alcohol, in writing, from the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
  4. At any student organization sponsored event where alcohol is served, both food and non-alcoholic beverages must be provided.
  5. Events sponsored by Law School student organizations may not be BYOB events.
  6. There must be at least one socially responsible host per 50 attendees at any event. For events with fewer than 50 people, there must be at least one socially responsible host.
  7. A Socially Responsible Host must be a member of the student organization hosting the event. They must not consume alcohol immediately prior to or during the event. They are responsible for overseeing and ensuring the safety of the event and adherence to the University Alcohol Policy, including, but not limited to, (1) ensuring compliance with North Carolina state law; (2) ensuring that alcohol is served in a controlled manner and not freely accessible; (3) ensuring that no one under 21 or who is visibly intoxicated is served; and (4) ensuring that alcohol does not leave the area of the event.
  8. The main purpose of any event may not be the consumption of alcohol and no event may encourage or facilitate excessive drinking.

Advertising

The consumption of alcohol may not be the focus of  any  events (both on- and off-campus) sponsored by student organizations. Student organizations may advertise that alcohol will be served at an event, but each advertisement of an event must have a clearly articulated purpose apart from the consumption of alcohol.