Alcohol/Drug Policies

Alcoholic Beverages

To promote responsible alcohol use, all students, regardless of age and time spent in the presence of alcohol, will be held responsible for the following policies:

1. The possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus is permitted only in the following areas: the Rathskellar, Residence Hall rooms, and any other place on campus providing alcohol in accordance with The University of Tampa Alcohol Policy; any exceptions must be made by the Director of Student Activities or the Director of Residence Life.
2. Students are expected to observe campus policy, as well as the law of the State of Florida and the City of Tampa, that prohibits: (1) any person under 21 years of age from possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages; (2) any person from selling, giving, serving, or permitting to be served alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 years of age; and (3) any person from misrepresenting licensee, his/her agent or employee, to sell, give, serve or deliver alcoholic beverages to any person under 21 years of age.
3. Students are cautioned that the possession of alcoholic beverages can be "constructive." Constructive possession may be assumed to exist through the presence of alcoholic beverages in and about rooms, vehicles, space or repository to which the student has access and where his/her knowledge of the presence of alcoholic beverages can be fairly presumed. More clearly, if a student is aware of the presence of alcohol in the above mentioned areas and there is enough alcohol for him/her to consume (over a one-to-one alcohol-to-legal drinker ratio), he/she is constructively possessing alcohol.
4. Common source containers, or kegs, are not permitted on campus without prior authorization from either the Director of Student Activities or the Director of Residence Life.
5. Use of alcoholic beverages cannot and will not be considered an excuse of violation of University articles or local, state or federal statutes or laws.

Certain offenses require by law that the University disclose possible sanctioning practices.

Other Drugs

Use of drugs cannot and will not be considered an excuse for violation of University articles or local, state or federal statutes or laws. Drugs, as referred to here, are those illegal substances as defined by local, state or federal statutes or laws.

1. Possession, consumption, provision or sales of drugs or drug-related paraphernalia, other than those taken under a doctor's prescription and in accordance with his/her direction, are specifically prohibited by the University.
2. Students are cautioned that the possession, and/or consumption of drugs and/or the possession of related paraphernalia can be "constructive." Constructive possession or consumption may be assumed to exist through the presence of drugs/paraphernalia in about the room, vehicles, space or repository to which a student has access and where his/her knowledge of drugs/paraphernalia can be fairly presumed. More clearly, if a student is aware of the presence of drugs in the above-mentioned areas, he/she is constructively possessing drugs.

Sanctioning Practices at the University

So that a clear understanding of the ramifications of alcohol and other drug use exists, the sanctions for violation of alcohol and other drug policies are listed below. As prior record and severity of the violation also impact sanctioning, the listing on pages 68 and 69 of the student handbook serves only as a general guideline.

Alcohol and Drug Related Sanctions

Certain offenses require by law that the University discloses possible sanctioning practices. In response to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, the following possible sanctions are in place for alcohol and other drug violations. Also, see the "Partners for Responsible Choices" section for a further discussion of drugs and alcohol.

ARTICLE 9 (ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES) VIOLATIONS **

Depending on the amount of alcohol involved, the student may be suspended or expelled from the University, as well as be prosecuted. At the minimum*, a student will be sanctioned as follows:

First Violation


Second Violation


Third Violation


There exists a specific set of sanctions for those students who are found responsible for social host violations. A social host violator is any student in whose contracted residence hall an alcohol violation has occurred. At a minimum, a student will be sanctioned as follows:

First Violation


Second Violation


ARTICLE 10 (DRUGS) VIOLATIONS **

Depending on the amount of illegal substance involved, the student may be suspended or expelled from the University, as well as be prosecuted. At the minimum*, a student will be sanctioned as follows: For drug paraphernalia violations, sanctions may be less than prescribed below.

First Violation

Second Violation
Paraphernalia

1. Students are warned that the possession of drug-related paraphernalia, regardless of its purpose or use, is considered a violation of campus policy. Students will be sanctioned under Article 10 and may be referred to the Tampa Police Department.
2. Paraphernalia can be defined as any aid or mechanism that can be conceived as assisting with the injecting, smoking, inhaling, or otherwise ingesting a controlled substance; or with packing, storing, or concealing a drug or its byproduct; or with planting, manufacturing, processing or otherwise preparing a drug for sale or distribution.

Did You Know that it is unlawful to...

• Give, sell, or serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under age 21. Maximum penalty for violations is one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. A second conviction is a felony punishable by five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
• Possess alcoholic beverages if you are under age 21. The maximum penalty is 60 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. The investigators may recommend that the court also suspend driving privileges for six months as part of the penalty.
• Misrepresent your age or the age of anyone else for the purpose of buying or being served alcoholic beverages. Penalties include 60 days in jail or a $500 fine and a suspension of driving privileges for one year. A second conviction can result in a $5,000 fine and five years in state prison.
• Possess a forged, stolen, borrowed, fictitious, counterfeit or unlawfully used Florida Driver's License or Florida identification card. It is also unlawful to trade or supply someone else with a Florida Driver's License or I.D. card. Penalties can amount to five years in state prison or a $5,000 fine and revocation of driver's license.
• Sell, issue or offer in Florida any I.D. card or other document giving the age of someone without requiring proof of age. Penalties range up to five years in state prison or a $5,000 fine.
• Attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages or tobacco products if underage. The store owner or employee can have an underage person arrested by filing a complaint with the local State Attorney. Penalties can be up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.

Enforcement of Laws

Campus Safety & Security cooperates with local law enforcement agencies on handling violations of alcohol and other drug violations. The action taken on individual cases is determined by the law enforcement agency.

Educational Programs

BACCHUS is the university version of SADD and means "Boost Alcohol Awareness Concerning the Health of University Students." BACCHUS is a university-based alcohol prevention program. Our philosophy is that university students can play a unique role in encouraging their peers to reflect on, talk honestly about and develop positive habits and attitudes toward alcohol use or non-use. GAMMA stands for "Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol" and is made up of representatives from each Greek social organization. Contact the Student Activities Office for more information.

Resident Assistants and Community Development Team members provide periodic programming on the topic of alcohol and other drugs to their floors and residence halls. Contact the Office of Residence Life and Student Activities Office for more information.

The UT Greek Community as well as other campus organizations host programs throughout the year aimed at educating their members and the campus community on the issue of alcohol and other drugs. Contact the Student Activities Office for more information.

UT participates in two nationally recognized theme weeks each year. The first is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, which occurs in mid October and the second is Safe Spring Break Week, which is held the week prior to Spring Break. These weeks are sponsored by the national BACCHUS/GAMMA Peer Education Network and involve campus programming from a variety of different student and University organizations. Contact the Dean of Students and Student Activities for more information.

Assistance

Assistance is available on campus for students who have substance abuse problems or who know others who have problems. Students may contact the Student Health and Counseling Center. The Center can also refer students to services available in the Tampa Bay area that provide help to those with drug and alcohol problems, as well as support groups for family and friends.