The purpose of the Drew University Alcohol Policy is to promote student responsibility, respect for the community and self, and to establish a University community that is safe, healthy, and conducive to serious academic endeavors. To this end, the Alcohol Policy, which is based on federal, state, and local laws, sets guidelines and defines community standards. Within these parameters, students must define their own values and make their own choices regarding alcohol use. However, the University expects all its members to comply with both the Drew University Policy and federal, state, and local laws as they apply to alcohol possession and use.
The University holds students accountable for the decisions they make, particularly when they have an adverse effect on the health and safety of the community, on the quality of life of other students, on the learning environment, or on the students themselves. To support student responsibility, the University offers a wide range of educational and counseling services that provide accurate alcohol-related information and evaluation. In addition to the formal services, students can gain support from faculty, staff, and other members of the community. When students fail to meet expectations set forth regarding alcohol use, the policy provides a range of sanctions depending on past behavior and the seriousness of the offense.
The goal of this policy, and of the sanctions imposed under it, is to educate students about, and to encourage, safe drinking practices. The policy seeks to establish clear community standards around alcohol. While the policy defines guidelines for the consequences of various behaviors, the context of those behaviors will be considered when policy violations are adjudicated. Therefore, the most severe consequences will result from situations in which high-risk drinking occurs, which includes drinking games. Students who are charged with repeat offenses may face a higher level of sanction.
Entering a university setting for many necessitates a new level of independence. Students are able to make their own decisions and must be able to deal with the consequences of those decisions. Keeping this in mind, the University encourages students to be responsible for their actions and will utilize parental notification as a partnership. This notification will be enacted when there is noncompliance, disregard of the policy and guidelines, or charge of a higher level of sanctioning.
Students’ misuse of alcohol may result in violations of other community standards beyond those established by the Alcohol Policy. When an alcohol violation occurs in conjunction with the violation of another University policy, such as the Drug Policy, the Human Rights Policy, or the Sexual Harassment Policy, a higher level of sanction may be imposed. Failure to comply with the directive of a University official, including Residence Life Staff, Public Safety officers, and Student Affairs staff, when combined with an alcohol violation, may also raise the level of sanction.
To safeguard students so they receive the help they need without fear of penalty or retribution, the “Good Samaritan Clause” has been adopted. This clause may be invoked by the person in need of assistance and by those who provided that person with alcohol. If a student or organization helps an intoxicated student to get assistance from Residence Life staff, Public Safety officers, medical professionals, and/or local or state police, both the intoxicated student and the individual(s) assisting may not be subject to formal University disciplinary action for 1) being intoxicated or 2) having provided alcohol.
This policy refers to isolated incidents only and does not excuse or protect those who flagrantly or repeatedly violate the Alcohol Policy.
In the event of an alcohol related emergency or concern students should contact Public Safety from any campus phone at X4444, or any cell phone at 973-408-4444.
Drew University recognizes that an emergency situation involving drugs and alcohol may arise. In order to be pro-active in response to a situation, if a student is transported by emergency response team and alcohol and/or drugs is involved, the following procedure is implemented:
In addition to criminal sanctions and civil liability under State law, violations of this policy will subject a student to University non-academic conduct procedures. These procedures allow for a hearing.
The University sets expectations in compliance with federal, state, and local laws in order to maintain a productive living/learning environment; use may not negatively impact community life.
Level 1 Alcohol Offense
Level 1 Adjudication---Potential sanctions
Level 2 Alcohol Offense
Level 2 Adjudication---Potential sanctions
Level 3 Alcohol Offense
Level 3 Adjudication---Potential sanctions
Host addendum: The University will sanction those involved with hosting a function and providing alcohol differently from an individual attending the function. The goal is to increase education and awareness of the responsibilities that go along with hosting. A person found responsible for hosting will be placed on “host” probation for up to one academic semester. Students that are documented for and found responsible for hosting a party will have the amount of alcohol confiscated considered during adjudication.
At this level a student may be experiencing issues aside from alcohol consumption. The goal is to assist the whole person to become a more positive member of the University community.
Level 4 Offense
Multiple infractions alone or coupled with other policy violations (hazing, disorderly conduct, sexual assault, human rights., etc.)
Level 4 Adjudication---Potential sanctions
The Drew University Alcohol Policy was created as a result of the University’s concern for the education and development of the whole person. The policy provides parameters to keep students safe and is in accord with New Jersey laws regarding alcoholic beverages. According to New Jersey State law, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to:
Ordinance passed in 2013 and found in the Borough Code as Borough Code § 233-1
Possession or consumption by persons under legal age on private property prohibited; violations and penalties.
A. Any person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages who knowingly possesses, without legal authority, or who knowingly consumes any alcoholic beverage on private property shall be subject, upon conviction, to a fine of $250 for the first offense and $350 for any subsequent offense.
B. The Municipal Judge may, in addition to any other sentence imposed for the offense, suspend or postpone, for up to six months, the driving privilege of the defendant. Upon the conviction of any person under this section, Chapter 233, the Municipal Judge shall forward a report to the Division of Motor Vehicles (the "Division") stating the first and last day of the suspension or postponement period imposed by the Municipal Judge pursuant to this section, Chapter 233. If a person is less than 17 years of age at the time of the imposition of a sentence, the period of license postponement, including a suspension or postponement of the privilege of operating a motorized bicycle, shall commence on the day the sentence is imposed and shall run for a period of six months after the person reaches the age of 17 years.
C. If a person, at the time of the imposition of a sentence, has a valid New Jersey driver's license, the Municipal Judge shall immediately collect the license and forward it to the Division, along with the report. If for any reason the license cannot be collected, the Municipal Judge shall include in the report the complete name, address, date of birth, eye color, and sex of the person, as well as the first and last date of the license suspension period imposed by the Municipal Judge.
D. The Municipal Judge shall inform the person orally and in writing that, if the person is convicted of operating a motor vehicle during the period of license suspension or postponement, the person shall be subject to the penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40. A person shall be required to acknowledge receipt of the written notice in writing. Failure to receive a written notice or failure to acknowledge, in writing, the receipt of written notice shall not be a defense to a subsequent charge of violation of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.
E. If the person convicted under this section, Chapter 233, is not a New Jersey resident, the Municipal Judge shall suspend or postpone, as appropriate, the nonresident driving privilege of the person based on the age of the person and submit the required report to the Division. The Municipal Judge shall not collect the license of a nonresident convicted under this section, Chapter 233. Upon receipt of a report from the Municipal Judge, the Division shall notify the appropriate officials in the licensing jurisdiction of the suspension or postponement.
(1) The Municipal Judge shall have the discretion to waive the penalty provisions of Subsections A, B and C above if the defendant is enrolled in an educational institution that has imposed administrative sanctions and penalties against the defendant for the offense(s).[Added 5-29-2013 by Ord. No. 16-2013]
F. Exceptions:
(1) Religious observance, presence of a parent or guardian. Nothing in Chapter 233 shall prohibit an underage person from consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage in connection with a religious observance, ceremony or rite, or consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage in the presence of, and with the permission of, a parent, guardian or relative who has attained the legal age to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. As used in this section, Chapter 233, "guardian" means a person who has qualified as a guardian of the underage person pursuant to testamentary court appointment, or other applicable laws, as determined by the Municipal Judge, and "relative" means an underage person's grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or any other person related by blood or affinity.
(2) Performance of employment. Nothing in Chapter 233 shall prohibit possession of alcoholic beverages by any person while engaged in the performance of employment pursuant to an employment permit issued by the Director of the Division of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, or for a bona fide hotel or restaurant, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 33:1-26, or while actively engaged in the preparation of food while enrolled in a culinary arts or hotel management program at a county vocation school or post-secondary educational institution; however, nothing in Chapter 233 shall be construed to preclude the imposition of a penalty under these subsections, N.J.S.A. 33:1-81, or any other section of law against a person who is convicted of unlawful alcoholic beverage activity on or at premises licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
(3) An underage person and one or two other persons, if applicable, shall be immune from prosecution under this chapter prohibiting any person under the legal age who, without legal authority, knowingly possesses or knowingly consumes an alcoholic beverage on private property if:[Added 5-29-2013 by Ord. No. 16-2013]
(a) One of the underage persons called 9-1-1 and reported that another underage person was in need of medical assistance due to alcohol consumption;
(b) The underage person who called 9-1-1 and, if applicable, one or two other persons acting in concert with the underage person who called 9-1-1, provided each of their names to the 9-1-1 operator;
(c) The underage person was the first person to make the 9-1-1 report; and
(d) The underage person and, if applicable, one or two other persons acting in concert with the underage person who made the 9-1-1 call, remained on the scene with the person under the legal age in need of medical assistance until assistance arrived and cooperated with medical assistance and law enforcement personnel on the scene.
(4) The underage person who received medical assistance as provided in Subsection F(3) of this section shall also be immune from prosecution under this chapter prohibiting the possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage on private property.[Added 5-29-2013 by Ord. No. 16-2013]
In view of the University’s commitment to educate and support the growth and development of the whole person, a full-time NJ Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor is available to anyone in the campus community during the academic year. If you or someone you know may have a problem with alcohol and/or drugs, the counselor provides assessment, education, and individual and group counseling. Referrals off-campus and to local support groups are also available.
Call x3318 for assistance.
If you can relate to three or more of the above criteria, you may have a drinking problem.