Acacia Health & Safety Standards
By September 1, 2019, all NIC member organizations evaluated their documents to determine if they are consistent with the following NIC Alcohol & Drug guidelines. Acacia met this goal by last Spring of 2018 with our updated Health & Safety Standards. Chapters are responsible for enforcing these policy amongst their members and at their events.
Alcohol is only permitted in private living quarters of chapter facilities for residents above the legal drinking age, and must be below 15% alcohol by volume (ABV).
During a registered event, alcohol possession and distribution must be restricted to common spaces of a chapter facility for the duration of the event.
Alcohol above 15% ABV may only be served by a licensed and insured third-party vendor (regardless of event location) at registered events.
Each chapter of Acacia will comply with its local campus community’s standard or cap on number of events with alcohol (regardless of event location).
Each fraternity will utilize a standardized event management and guest registration procedure (regardless of event location).
Events must be limited to a guest-to-member ratio of no more than 3:1 for events with alcohol and may not exceed the campus standard or fire code (whichever is lower).
These standards listed above are in alignment with industry-wide efforts to aid in maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our members and communities adopted by all NIC Organizations.
NIC Alcohol & Drug Guidelines:
In any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by the chapter/organization, including those that occur on or off organizational/chapter premises:
The chapter/organization, members and guests must comply with all federal, state, provincial and local laws. No person under the legal drinking age may possess, consume, provide or be provided alcoholic beverages.
The chapter/organization, members and guests must follow the federal law regarding illegal drugs and controlled substances. No person may possess, use, provide, distribute, sell and/or manufacture illegal drugs or other controlled substances while on chapter/organizational premises or at any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by the chapter/organization.
Alcoholic beverages must either be:
a. Provided and sold on a per-drink basis by a licensed and insured third-party vendor (e.g., restaurant, bar, caterer, etc.); or
b. Brought by individual members and guests through a bring your own beverage (“BYOB”) system. The presence of alcohol products above 15% alcohol by volume (“ABV”) is prohibited on any chapter/organization premises or at any event, except when served by a licensed and insured third-party vendor.Common sources of alcohol, including bulk quantities, which are not being served by a licensed and insured third party vendor, are prohibited (i.e., amounts of alcohol greater than what a reasonable person should consume over the duration of an event).
Alcoholic beverages must not be purchased with chapter/organizational funds or funds pooled by members or guests (e.g., admission fees, cover fees, collecting funds through digital apps, etc.).
A chapter/organization must not co-host or co-sponsor, or in any way participate in, an activity or event with another group or entity that purchases or provides alcohol.
A chapter/organization must not co-host or co-sponsor an event with a bar, event promoter or alcohol distributor; however, a chapter/organization may rent a bar, restaurant, or other licensed and insured third-party vendor to host a chapter/organization event.
Attendance by non-members at any event where alcohol is present must be by invitation only, and the chapter/organization must utilize a guest list system. Attendance at events with alcohol is limited to a 3:1 maximum guest-to-member ratio and must not exceed local fire or building code capacity of the chapter/organizational premises or host venue.
Any event or activity related to the new member joining process (e.g., recruitment, intake, rush, etc.) must be substance free. No alcohol or drugs may be present if the event or activity is related to new member activities, meetings, or initiation into an organization, including but not limited to “bid night,” “big/little” events or activities, “family” events or activities and any ritual or ceremony.
The chapter/organization, members or guests must not permit, encourage, coerce, glorify or participate in any activities involving the rapid consumption of alcohol, such as drinking games.