Consistent with Florida and Federal law, the minimum legal drinking age on or off the Florida Tech campus is 21. Underage possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, public intoxication, driving or operating a motor vehicle or other mode of transportation while under the influence of alcohol or other substance, distribution or sale of alcohol, possession of a common source container, or excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol are violations of the alcohol policy.
Possession, consumption or distribution of alcohol by any person who is under the age of 21 is prohibited. Possession, consumption or distribution of alcohol in any common space including but not limited to a hallway, stairwell, lounge or bathroom is prohibited.
A student who is 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume the permissible amount of alcohol in his/her residence hall room or apartment provided that no other individual under the age of 21 is present, unless that individual is the roommate. The door to the room or apartment must be closed when in possession or consuming alcohol. No guest under the age of 21 is allowed in the residence hall room of a 21-year-old student while alcohol is being consumed.
An individual who is 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume alcohol in the room of another 21-year-old student provided that no one under the age of 21 is present. Abiding by the alcohol policy is the responsibility of all students.
Public intoxication is the appearance on campus or at a university activity in a state of intoxication. Facilitating, arranging or participating in any alcohol consumption activity that facilitates or encourages competitive, rapid or excessive consumption of alcohol regardless of age is prohibited.
Examples include without limitation, keg standing, alcohol luges and drinking games. Containers of alcoholic beverages over 40 ounces including but not limited to wine, beer, liquor, mini-kegs, beer balls, trash cans, tubs or punch bowls are prohibited. Individual possession of alcohol is limited to either one six-pack of beer or 40 ounces of liquor or wine per student who is at least 21 years old and is a resident of the room or apartment. Displays of alcohol beverages, funnels, empty alcohol boxes or containers, or shot glasses are prohibited.
The sale of alcoholic beverages or consumption of alcoholic beverages outdoors and in public areas is prohibited, except at scheduled events approved by the Dean of Students.
Additionally, Florida Institute of Technology is committed to protecting the safety, health and wellbeing of all students and employees. Alcohol and drug abuse pose a threat to the health and safety of students and employees and to the security of our equipment and facilities. For these reasons, the university is committed to the elimination of illegal drug and/or alcohol use and abuse in the workplace. The university's Drug and Alcohol policy outlines the practice and procedure designed to correct instances of identified alcohol and/or illegal drug use in the workplace.
Events with Alcohol
Student Life recommends that all events where alcohol is present take place at an insured and certified third-party vendor. However, clubs and organizations who wish to host closed events where alcohol may be present at a private residence or other location where invited guests may be in attendance, the following rules must be followed. Additionally, all events are subject to compliance with state and federal law, local ordinances, and University regulations.
It is the event host’s responsibility to implement a sound risk management plan and ensure all social events taking place where alcohol is present conform to the following standards as well as the Florida Tech Alcohol Policy stated in the Student Code of Conduct/Handbook.
- Clubs and/or organizations at Florida Tech may not host, financially support, or participate in any event open to the general public where alcohol is permitted. Any exception must be reviewed in consultation with the Dean of Students at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the event.
- All social events where alcohol is present will be private invite-only events and must be registered 72 hours before the event. A private invite is limited to the members of the host organization and their invited guests. The event must also be BYOB (bring your own beverage) or closed functions using a third-party vendor to handle the alcohol. The host organization cannot purchase alcohol with organizational funds or participate in the purchase of alcohol in any other manner (no bar tabs, use of personal checking accounts, pooling of funds or “passing the hat,” etc.).
- Alcohol products above 15% ABV are PROHIBITED in any facility or at any organization/club event, except when served by a licensed third-party
- The total number of persons present may not exceed three times the membership of one host organization. Any exception must be reviewed in consultation with the Dean of Students at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the event.
- The event, on or off campus, must be registered with Student Life at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the event. Please register your event using THIS FORM on Engage.
- Guest lists must be submitted 24 hours prior to the start of the Guest lists will only be accepted for approved events.
- A sign shall be clearly displayed at all entrances indicating the event is restricted to members and invited guests and stating the event’s ending time.
- If alcohol and invited guests are present at an event, the host organization must provide adequate identifiable security personnel or other security measures to ensure the safety of others in attendance, including the 30-minute allowance for crowd dispersion at the end of the event.
- Advertising on campus or social media of a social event where alcohol may be present is prohibited.
- Each person attending the event is responsible for bringing his/her own alcohol for personal consumption (no more than one six-pack of beer per person). Underage persons may not bring alcohol to any social The organization/club must ensure that individuals bring in and consume only their own alcohol.
- Clubs/Organizations are responsible for taking steps necessary to prevent uninvited guests and noticeably intoxicated people from entering the event; to prevent underage persons from bringing alcohol into the event; to prevent persons from leaving the event to drink, then being readmitted to the event; and to make certain individuals do not leave the event with open containers of alcohol.
- All common source containers of alcohol, including but not limited to, kegs, community coolers (cooler shared with others), punch bowls, bathtubs, bulk quantities, and any other container that may be shared with others, are prohibited.
- All entrances and exits to the event must always be monitored. ALL registered organizations hosting a private party are responsible for checking IDs of all those attending to assure compliance with the State of Florida’s legal drinking age
- Glass bottles are strictly prohibited at any social event, unless provided by a third-party
- The host organization is responsible for ensuring that a safe means of transportation is available for its member and guests, such as cabs or designated drivers.
- All social event forms are to be turned into Student Life. Compliance with these policies is the responsibility of the host social Failure to comply with this policy may result in referral of the student organization to the Dean of Students Office. Any questions should be directed to the Director of Student Involvement or his/her designee.
- No individual, group, or organization may charge in any way at an event where alcohol is
- No organization may co-sponsor/host events with an alcohol distributor, charitable organization or tavern (tavern is defined as an establishment generating more than half of annual gross sales from alcohol) where alcohol is given away, sold or otherwise provided to those present.
- Host Responsibility – The host of a registered event at which alcohol is present is responsible for the safety and behavior of all The host is the individual, group or organization that holds the party or sponsors the event.
- It is expected that hosts of social functions will have per 50 guests a minimum of one non-drinking member at the door, two non-drinking members as sober monitors and one non-drinking 21-years old or older member (or hire a person in place thereof) to distribute alcohol at a BYOB event.
- If a group’s (inter)national organization requires additional sober monitors, they must follow those requirements as well.
- In addition, enough food and nonalcoholic beverages other than water must be provided. These must be visible and readily available to all guests and displayed with the same prominence as the alcoholic beverages.
Florida state law defines hazing as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law, any brutality of a physical nature, such as paddling, whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, or forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance.
Hazing is any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student and also includes any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual. Among prohibited activities are forced or coerced activities that create excessive fatigue, cause physical and psychological shocks, involve kidnapping, morally questionable quests, treasure hunts or scavenger hunts or any other such activities, involve publicly wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, cause students to engage in public stunts, and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities or late-night activities that interfere with scholastic endeavors.
Also prohibited are any activities that are in violation of federal, state or local laws, the University Code of Conduct or accepted standards of good taste or propriety. For purposes of university policy, any activity described in this paragraph upon which the admission into or affiliation with an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be forced or coerced activity. It is not a defense to a charge of hazing that the consent of the victim had been obtained or that the conduct or activity was not part of an official organizational event, was not sanctioned/approved by the organization or was not done as a condition of membership to the organization.
New member orientation and development programs must be constructive and strive to make individuals a part of the larger group by mutually understanding objectives and participating in programs.
According to Florida State Law:
A person commits hazing, a third-degree felony, punishable as provided in s.775.082 or s.775.083, when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act of hazing as defined by state law upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization and the hazing results in serious bodily injury or death of such other person.
A person commits hazing, a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable as provided in s.775.082 or s.775.083, when he or she intentionally or recklessly commits any act of hazing as defined by state law upon another person who is a member of or an applicant to any type of student organization and the hazing creates a substantial risk of physical injury or death to such other person.
As a condition of any sentence imposed pursuant to a violation of the Florida State Hazing Law, the court shall order the defendant to attend and complete a four-hour hazing education course and may also impose a condition of drug or alcohol probation.
The Office of Student Life is concerned with your physical, mental, and emotional well being. We are committed to providing guidance, assistance, and support to all students and student run clubs an organizations. Student Involvement actively pursues the development of a university community that creates a place for every student to be successful, involved, and engaged in the work of creating a life of meaning. We accomplish this by mentoring and collaborating with visionary students who excel at creating leadership opportunities, programs, and events that enrich and enliven the collegiate experience. It is our responsibility to ensure that the student run clubs and organizations strive to achieve these same goals, create a safe and productive environment, and further the mission of the Florida Institute of Technology. We maintain the right to, at any time deemed necessary, utilize the following to ensure student-run clubs and organizations are acting in accordance with our office:
- The authority to end the membership of any individual(s)
- The authority to impeach any officer
- The authority to remove an advisor
- The authority to inactivate an entire club or organization
The Student Life Office will meet with the offending member(s) or those acting on behalf of the club or organization. The Student Life Office will require probable cause to remove any entity. Probable cause will be determined on a case-by-case basis and can include, but is not limited to:
- Removal requested by an Advisor
- Removal requested by the majority of the Executive Board
- Removal requested by two-thirds of the organization members
- Removal requested by University Administration
- Any violation of the Student Organization Manual
- Any violation of University policy
- Any violation of the club or organization’s constitution, including neglect of duties or responsibilities
- Any act deemed unsafe or unhealthy to the individual or others