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General Policy on Alcoholic Beverages : 1.07.00.05

Policy/Guideline Area

Governance, Organization, and General Policies

Applicable Divisions

TCATs, Community Colleges

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish system-wide polices on the possession, consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages on property owned or controlled by the Tennessee Board of Regents. This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff and visitors at all Colleges.

Definitions

  • Alcoholic Beverage means and includes intoxicating liquors, wine and beer as defined by T.C.A. § 57-3-101 and T.C.A. § 57-5-101.

 

Policy/Guideline

  1. General Prohibition
    1. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on property owned or controlled by the college is prohibited except as provided in this policy.
    2. Faculty, staff, students or visitors who are at least twenty-one years of age may possess unopened containers of alcoholic beverages within their personal vehicles, provided that they may not open the containers or consume the contents while on property owned or controlled by the college.
  2. Serving Alcoholic Beverages at Special Events
    1. The President of each college is authorized to approve the serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages at a function or event held on college property.
      1. The event may not take place in classrooms; labs; faculty or administrative offices; student dining halls; student gathering areas; outdoor public areas, unless access to the area is restricted during the event; or athletic facilities, including stadiums, gymnasiums, playing fields, training rooms or locker rooms.
      2. The approval must be given in writing and must designate the sponsor of the event, the specific location of the event, the date and time of the event and the hours during which the alcoholic beverages will be served.
      3. Students under the age of twenty-one may attend an event at which alcoholic beverages will be served but must not be served or consume alcoholic beverages at the event.
      4. It is the responsibility of the sponsor of the event to determine if guests who are served alcoholic beverages are at least twenty-one years of age.
      5. If the sponsor is a third party, they must agree to indemnify the college from all liability arising from the service of alcohol at the event and provide proof of adequate general liability insurance.
  3. Sale of Alcoholic Beverages at Special Events
    1. Subject to the provisions of section II, above, the President of each college may approve the sale of alcoholic beverages at a function or event held on college property, consistent with state and local law. The sponsor of the event is responsible for insuring compliance with the applicable laws and providing documentation of that compliance to the college prior to approval of the sale of alcoholic beverages at the event.
  4. Expenditure of State Funds for Alcoholic Beverages
    1. The expenditure of state funds for the purchase of alcoholic beverages is absolutely prohibited. “State funds” includes funds derived from state taxes, tuition, or student fees that are appropriated or re-appropriated by the general assembly. If alcoholic beverages are served at a college-sponsored event, the cost of alcoholic beverages, including tax, must always be separately identifiable on the receipts and supporting documentation and the source of the funds for the purchase must be identified.
  5. Culinary Arts Programs
    1. The use of alcoholic beverages as part of the curriculum in Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts and similar academic courses where the beverages are  used solely in the cooking process or in the wine tasting process that is consistent with standard culinary practices is permitted, however, students who are not twenty-one shall not participate in wine tastings.
  6. Sale of Alcoholic Beverages by Lessees
    1. If property owned by the Tennessee Board of Regents is leased to a third party, the lease may allow for sale of alcoholic beverages on the property, subject to the applicable state and local laws. The lease must be for a period of at least twelve months; must require the lessee to obtain the lessor’s prior approval of the sale of alcoholic beverages and provide for immediate termination of the lease if violations of the applicable state and local laws occur.

Sources

Authority

T.C.A. § 49-8-203, T.C.A. § 49-7-3003
Rules: Board of Regents Rule 0240-02-01, as amended, Tenn. Comp. R & Regs. (1999)

History

New Policy approved at Dec. 14, 2017 Board Meeting. Replaces Policy 1:07:00:00 General Policy on Tobacco and Alcoholic Beverages. Tobacco policy is now separate, Policy 1:07:00:10. TBR Meeting June 20, 1997; March 15, 2002; TBR Meeting June 26, 2008; TBR Board Meeting March 26, 2009; TBR Board Meeting September 25, 2009; TBR Board Meeting March 29, 2012.