ABAC 9.10.6.1 – Service of Alcoholic Beverages
Applicability
The following guidelines have been adopted to govern College events where alcoholic beverages are served or provided.
The guidelines apply to the following instances:
1. Any event, on or off College property, which is sponsored by a College unit, or
2. Any event, on or off College property, where alcoholic beverages are served or provided by officials, employees, or agents of the College acting in their official capacities.
Where can alcohol be served?
1. Approved Sites – alcoholic beverages may be served in accordance with the guidelines listed in this document at:
a. Forest Lakes Golf Course – clubhouse and facilities
b. Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village
2. Prohibited Sites – alcohol may not be served at the following sites, except with the written permission of the President:
a. Main Campus (Tifton)
b. ABAC at Moultrie
c. ABAC at Bainbridge
d. ABAC at Donalsonville
e. ABAC at Blakely
Requirements for serving alcoholic beverages:
1. Legal Age - Alcoholic beverages will only be served to or served by persons of legal drinking age (21 years old).
2. ID Check - Official picture IDs shall be required of all persons requesting to be served alcoholic beverages. A College employee or agent thereof, must check for proper identification before serving any alcoholic beverage and must reject any questionable forms of identification
3. Student events – Alcoholic beverages shall not be served at predominantly student- attended events.
4. Refusal of Service - If a participant or guest appears to be impaired, the employee, or agent thereof, must not serve any additional alcohol to that person. Furthermore, a reasonable effort should be made to arrange safe transportation for the individual in question.
5. Designated Driver or Shuttle Service - The Sponsoring College unit, College official, agent, or employee should establish procedures to provide impaired guests transportation to their destination if determined necessary. Such procedures can include assigning one or more members of each group of guests or participants the responsibility of being a designated driver who will refrain from drinking. Individuals who serve as designated drivers need to be sure that their personal vehicular liability insurance covers this situation. Another alternative is to provide shuttle services for the guests to their destinations.
6. Provide Non-Alcoholic Beverages - The sponsoring College unit or College official, agents, or employee should provide a reasonable choice of non-alcoholic beverages so as to avoid the problem of “forcing” guests to drink alcoholic beverages because there is nothing else to drink. There should be parity between the quantity and variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
7. Serve Food - Alcoholic beverages shall be served only when there is also a lunch, dinner, or reception that includes food.
8. Self-Service of Alcoholic Beverages Not Permitted - The sponsoring College unit or College official, agent, or employee must use staff members or hired bartenders to serve alcoholic beverages in order to limit the size and number of drinks being served and to identify those who should be denied service. Where the function involves a sit-down meal at which alcohol is served, waiters and waitresses will be instructed to ask before automatically refilling wine or liquor glasses to avoid a situation where a guest continues drinking simply because the waiter continues to pour.
9. Post Drinking Restrictions in Prominent Places - Notices informing guests as to the legal drinking age should be conspicuously posted at College events where alcohol is served. This requirement is particularly important for those events where the guests or participants may include students or members of the general public who are younger than the legal drinking age.
10. Restrict Alcoholic Beverages to a Controlled Area - The sponsoring College unit or College official, agent, or employee must take adequate steps to ensure that alcoholic beverages are not allowed outside the predetermined boundaries for the event. All alcoholic beverages should be consumed or disposed of by all guests or participants before leaving the premises.
11. Limit or Eliminate References to Alcoholic Beverages in Advertisements - Advertisements or invitations to College events where alcoholic beverages are to be served should emphasize the nature of the event, and not the alcoholic beverages. References to the type and quantity of alcoholic beverages will not be noted in promotional materials, but notation that alcohol will be served may be included.
12. Limit Hours of Service of Alcoholic Beverages - Service of alcoholic beverages must be discontinued at least an hour before the event is scheduled to end. The closing time should be posted near the bar to avoid misunderstandings at the end of an event. Enforcement of this provision requires a firm refusal to serve to all attendees and should not be associated with a “last call” offer.
13. Cash Bar and License Requirement – The offering of alcohol for sale, either by the drink or by event, shall be only by a person or entity licensed in accordance with applicable regulations.
14. ABAC Police Required at ALL Events –ABAC Police officer(s) or other authorized law enforcement (within jurisdiction) must be present for all events where alcoholic beverages will be served. The officer(s) must be present for the duration of the event.
Implementation and Intent
Implementation of these guidelines may require sponsors of College events where alcoholic beverages are served or provided to modify their current practices, to hire additional staff, or to retrain existing staff. The costs involved in implementing these guidelines, however, are minimal when compared to the potential liability facing the College and its officials if adequate safeguards are not taken.