Consumption of Alcohol on University Property

Intent

The Policy intends to provide guidelines for the consumption of alcohol on University property. Nothing in this Policy is intended to take away the individual’s responsibility with regard to alcohol.

The University reserves the right to refuse approval of an event at its sole discretion.

Definitions

Personal consumption of alcohol is:

a) 2-3 people in the privacy of own rooms for impromptu get-togethers where authority is given by college and where alcohol is supplied for no cost and no fee;

b) Larger groups within the geographical area specified by the College/Halls where alcohol is consumed not sold.

Licensed Function: A function for which it would be necessary to obtain a General Purpose Permit Approval from the Licensing Commission, and at which alcohol will be sold or a cover charge will be incurred.

Scope

All staff and/or student and/or third party events, functions or gatherings at which alcohol is to be consumed on University property.

This policy does not apply to:

Events, functions or gatherings taking place in licensed premises on University property.
Staff or staff and third party events at which alcohol is served without monetary exchange, such as working meetings and celebrations and which take place with the prior approval of the head(s) of the organisational unit(s) involved. Heads of organisational units are requested to keep a record of such approvals and to monitor such events as they authorise.
Personal consumption of alcohol by halls or college residents, pastoral staff and their duly authorised guests within the confines of each of the JCU Halls of Residence and each of the affiliated colleges individually and which conform with rules established and monitored by each individual college or hall.

Policy

The University is committed to ensuring that the consumption of alcohol on University property is in accordance with relevant Federal and State laws and any relevant University policies and regulations.

The University encourages personal and social responsibility in the serving and consumption of alcohol. The University does not condone the use of alcohol in any manner which is unsafe, illegal or fails to respect cultural differences and the rights of others.

Organisers of a function will be deemed to be directly responsible for the planning and management of the function, including responsibility for ensuring that proof of age is obtained prior to the serving or consumption of alcohol.

Organisers must ensure that consumption of alcohol is a social adjunct to, and not the purpose of, the function. Organisers who choose to serve alcohol at a function should ensure that the function is fully inclusive and makes provision for people who are not of legal drinking age or do not drink alcohol for religious, cultural or other reasons.

A General Purpose Permit must be obtained from Liquor Licensing (Department of Tourism, Racing and Fair Trading) for any licensed function held on University property.

The brewing or distilling of alcohol for human consumption on University property is not allowed.

The University prohibits any alcohol at Fisher Shield events.

Procedure

Approval and Permit for a Licensed Function

1. Applicants wishing to hold a function at which alcohol will be sold must:

1.1 At least 28 days before the function, submit to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Information and Corporate Services) JCU Townsville, or the Pro Vice Chancellor (Cairns International and Development), JCU Cairns, a General Purpose Permit Application and the relevant fee, together with an attached JCU Application for Function form signed by the relevant Head of School or Director of organisational unit.

1.2 Once the Application for Function has been approved, the applicant must send both forms and the fee to the Licensing Commission (General Purpose Permit Application must be lodged 21 days prior to the event), Ground Floor, State Government Building, Cnr Stanley and Walkers Sts, Townsville QLD 4810, or the Licensing Commission, Level 2, State Government Building, 10-12 McLeod, Cairns QLD 4870.

1.3 No sale of alcohol is to proceed, under any circumstances, if a General Purpose approval has not been received.

1.4 Upon receipt by the applicant of a General Purpose Permit Approval from the Licensing Commission and as proof of receipt, a copy must be sent to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services & Registrar, JCU Townsville, or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Cairns, International and Engagement), JCU Cairns, to arrive prior to the function.

1.5 A copy of the General Purpose Permit Approval from the Licensing Commission must be displayed prominently at the function.

Approval for a Non-licensed Function

2. Applicants wishing to hold a function at which alcohol will be consumed but not sold, and for which no cover charge will be incurred, must at least 7 days before the function submit to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services & Registrar, JCU Townsville, or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Cairns, International and Engagement), JCU Cairns, a JCU Application for Function form signed by the relevant Head of School or Director of organisational unit.

Exceptions are:

(a) Staff or staff and third party events at which alcohol is served without monetary exchange, such as working meetings and celebrations and which take place with the prior approval of the head(s) of the organisational unit(s) involved. Heads of organisational units are requested to keep a record of such approvals and to monitor such events as they authorise.

(b) Personal consumption of alcohol by halls or college residents, pastoral staff and their duly authorised guests within the confines of each of the JCU Halls of Residence and each of the affiliated colleges individually and which conform with rules established and monitored by each individual college or hall.

Consideration of applications will take into account compliance with University’s policy on the consumption of Alcohol on University property, Harassment Policy and codes of conduct for University staff and students.

A comprehensive event management plan is available from JCU Student Association and its completion will assist in expediting approval.

An event plan is mandatory where the event is held outside a licensed premise and the event has been publicly promoted or is open to the general public.

An event plan is advisory but is not mandatory where the event is held outside a licensed premise and minors are in attendance or 50 or more people will be in attendance or amplified entertainment is proposed.

The University reserves the right to request an event plan at its sole discretion.

Cost for the Use of University Facilities, Premises and/or Grounds

3. Non-core activities using University facilities may be required to pay to the University the full economic cost for the use of those facilities. Reference should be made to Policy on the Authorised Use of University Facilities, Premises and/or Grounds for non-core purposes.

Notification of Facilities Management (Security/Night Watch staff)

4. Details of the function will be provided to the Security Section by the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services & Registrar, JCU Townsville, or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Cairns, International and Engagement), JCU Cairns on final approval of an application

5. The Event Manager is responsible for notifying the Security/Night Watch staff of the formal closure of the event on the day approved.

Promotion of Functions

6. Promotion and advertisements for functions should not emphasise the availability of alcohol, refer to the amount of alcohol available or encourage in any way the excessive consumption of alcohol.

In promotion and advertising, equal reference should be made to the availability of non-alcoholic drinks.
Attendance at a function should not be induced or encouraged by the offer of excessive alcoholic drinks at reduced or no cost.

Responsible Serving of Alcohol at a Licensed Function

7. All persons managing the function, serving alcohol or monitoring alcohol consumption must not themselves consume alcohol immediately prior to or at all during the function.

8. At least one person managing and serving at the function must have undertaken training in the responsible serving of alcohol prior to the function, or alternatively professional servers with this training must be hired for the function. Information on training is available from the Licensing Commission at: http://www.liquor.qld.gov.au/Licensees/RSA+and+RMLV+Training

9. It is illegal to serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18. Organisers must ensure that there is a system in place to check identity, age and status of a student if relevant.

10. Alcohol must not be served to a person who is, or appears to be, intoxicated.

Conduct of a Function

11. Alcohol must only be consumed in the area designated for the function.

12. Functions should not include any activity that encourages the excessive consumption of alcohol (e.g. a drinking contest).

13. Food (i.e. substantial snacks or hot meals) should be provided at all licensed functions. This should not be limited to salty snack foods such as chips or salted nuts which encourage drinking.

14. Non-alcoholic drinks should be available and displayed as prominently as alcoholic ones. Low-alcohol drinks should be served in preference to full strength alcoholic drinks. Plain water should be freely available throughout the function.

15. An appropriate standard of conduct must be maintained to ensure the safety and peaceful enjoyment of those attending the function and of anyone who may be affected in consequence of the function. This includes the impact of the behaviour of people who have left the function. Organisers are expected to monitor this and to take action if necessary.

16. Where a person is or appears intoxicated at an function, it is the responsibility of those managing the function to provide that person with appropriate assistance to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

17. Incidents involving personal injury or damage to property must be reported immediately to security/night watch staff and the relevant Head of School or organisational unit.

18. All other breaches of this procedure must be reported as soon as possible to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Information and Corporate Services) Townsville or the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Cairns, International and Development) Cairns. They may then refer the matter onto other internal and or external agencies as appropriate.

Failure to adhere to the conditions of this procedure

May render the event organisers and participants open to civil or other action by the Liquor Licensing authority or other third party(s); and
Will render the event organisers and participants open to action, including disciplinary action, by a college, hall or the University, as appropriate.

Policy sponsor:	Director, Facilities Management Office
Approval authority:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services & Registrar
Version no:	06-1
Date for next review:	31/05/2012

Version no.	Approval date	Implementation date	Details
06-1	01/06/2006	02/06/2006