Alcohol

• While the moderate and legal consumption of alcohol, in and of itself, does not constitute a problem when conducted in a mature, socially responsible atmosphere, the illegal use and abuse of alcoholic beverages are widely recognized as major problems in our society. As responsible members of society, particularly the higher education community, college fraternities are highly concerned about alcohol abuse.
• Considering that the majority of students on any college campus are underage, the purchase of alcohol, and in most cases its consumption, are illegal for the majority of the campus student population. Typically, fraternity membership is lower in average age than the campus in general, making alcohol illegal for the majority of chapter members.
• In its Statement of Position on Dry Rush, the Fraternity Executives Association has stated its belief that the excessive and/or illegal use of alcohol to attract students to fraternity membership is counterproductive to introducing and developing true sisterhood and brotherhood. Believing this to be true on the broader scale and considering state laws across the United States, which have made alcohol illegal for the majority of chapter membership, the Fraternity Executives Association takes the following position on alcohol in the life of the fraternity.
  
  1. The possession, use, and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages while on chapter premises during an official fraternity event, or in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the fraternity chapter, must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the state, province, county, city and university.
  2. No alcohol should be present at any pledge/associate member/novice program or activity of the chapter.
  3. No chapter member should permit, tolerate, encourage, or participate in "drinking games."
  4. The image of Fraternity is not enhanced by the co-sponsorship of an event with an alcohol distributor, or tavern, and therefore, this type of activity should be actively discouraged.
  5. Open parties, meaning those with unrestricted access by non-members of the fraternity, without specific invitation, are counterproductive to the interests of the fraternity chapter and the fraternity system, and should be actively discouraged.
  6. With less than half of the members of the average Fraternity chapter legally able to consume alcoholic beverages, it is believed by the Fraternity Executives Association that alcoholic beverages should not be purchased through the chapter treasury nor purchased for members or guests in the name of or on behalf of the chapter.
  7. The fraternity with its important responsibility to the development of its youngest members should not permit chapter members, collectively or individually, to purchase, serve, or sell alcoholic beverages to any minor (i.e., those under legal drinking age).
     
• The members of the Fraternity Executives Association, who serve as the chief administrative or executive officers of their college fraternal associations, believing that the long-term health and beneficial nature of the North American college fraternity system is dependent upon responsible actions by student members of the system, hereby encourage and actively recommend that the concepts set forth in this Statement of Position on Alcohol be actively promoted and communicated within the college communities across North America and that each member of the Fraternity Executives Association actively support these concepts in principle, in spirit, and in philosophy to the betterment of the North American college fraternity system.