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Responsible hosting guidelines offer tips, strategies

by Chris West
Public Relations
Playing the host brings with it a “host” of responsibilities regarding the selling, serving and consuming of alcohol at student organization functions.
  
Students planning functions and social occasions, should familiarize themselves with the student policy for alcoholic beverage serving and know for whom it pertains and to what extent. This information is in the MUSC Party Pack, which was designed to ensure that students understand the rules.
  
The Party Pack is made up of three documents; an outlined version of the MUSC student policy for alcoholic beverage serving, responsible hosting guidelines; and strategies and the student event approval form. These are available in the Office of Student Programs.
  
All student events must be approved via the student event approval form by the sponsoring college’s dean or the director of student programs. This is so the student organization is aware of the alcohol policy regarding functions, relevant state laws and responsible hosting guidelines and techniques.
  
The student policy of alcoholic beverage serving is the appendix to the MUSC student policy for alcohol and drug abuse prevention and intervention. The complete policy is explained at greater length in the student handbook. 
  
The policy governs any function being hosted by a recognized student organization, any function that uses the university and/or college name or receives funds from either the university or sponsoring college. Any function that is open to the entire membership such as a class party, or any function that is advertised on campus via a public medium, such as The Catalyst or e-mail is also covered. These criteria include on and off-campus events.
  
It also outlines South Carolina statutes that students should be aware of before planning an event. First a license is required for any function where alcohol is sold or included with cost of admission. Alcohol is not to be served to anyone under the age of 21. Where this may not apply to the majority of students on campus, it does to their guests. It is unlawful to serve an obviously intoxicated person, and alcohol may not be consumed in public or in any vehicle.
  
The responsible hosting guidelines offer tips and strategies in hosting a safe party, entertainment, alcohol and its effects on the body, recipes for food and non-alcoholic alternatives and information regarding promoting, managing and supervising the event.
  
The Office of Student Programs and the Student Government Association will be holding two seminars on responsible hosting. 
  
The first one will be at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 19 in room 100,  Library/Administration Building. 
  
The second one will be at noon on Friday, Oct. 20  in the Basic Science Building auditorium. 
  
Lunch will be provided at both seminars.
  
For students with questions regarding event planning, function sites or the student policy for alcoholic beverage serving should call the Office of  Student Programs at 792-2693.