College’s Alcohol Policy

The policies outlined below attempt to reduce many of the risky situations that accompany alcohol use, keeping safety foremost in choices related to alcohol use while complying with state and local regulations:

  • Persons under 21 years of age may not possess or consume alcohol, including having other students over-or-under the age of 21 possessing or consuming alcohol in their assigned room.
  • No person over the age of 21 may possess or consume alcohol in any place other than their assigned room, or an assigned room of another student who is over the age of 21, unless it is a college event where alcohol is permitted in the event guidelines. . 
  • Persons 21 years of age or older may not purchase or distribute alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 years of age.
  • No person or room may possess a common source of alcohol, defined as kegs, beer balls, boxed wine, or any other source of alcohol that can be distributed or consumed by multiple people.  
  • No person may use or possess funnels, tables used for beer pong, or other drinking game paraphernalia, with or without alcohol.
  • Excessive consumption and/or presenting signs of intoxication, including not being able to care for oneself due to alcohol consumption, are not permitted.
  • Students may not keep empty alcohol containers as decoration in campus residences.

SAMM (Safety Always Matters Most)

At Wheaton College, we value a healthy community and recognize that alcohol can be dangerous when abused, therefore we encourage students to make good choices.  However, we recognize that some students choose to drink, and in these situations, we believe that Safety Always Matters Most (SAMM).  This is the philosophy and lens through which we hold all alcohol-related discussions.

The College believes that student health and safety is a responsibility shared by all members of the Wheaton community, and that our obligation as a community is to act with care and respect for each other; this is embodiment of the SAMM philosophy. Towards that end, students who seek appropriate help due to an incident of intoxication (alcohol or other intoxicants) either for themselves or for other students generally will not be subject to the Student Conduct Process.  SAMM does not apply when the student does not seek to obtain help in addressing the alcohol or other intoxicant use at the time of the concern.

In order for SAMM to apply, the alleged student will meet with a Conduct Officer to discuss the incident and action steps for the student to reflect and learn from the situation to mitigate future incidents involving intoxication.  Following the meeting, the student will be informed of the required educational sanctions, which may include but not limited to educational activities and/or participation in an alcohol assessment.  The steps will depend on the nature of the incident and level of concern for the student’s health and safety.  Serious or repeated incidents will prompt a higher degree of concern.  If the educational sanctions are completed within the required time and the student demonstrates a genuine motivation, effort, and commitment to address their use of alcohol (or other intoxicant), the student will not be subject to the Student Conduct Process with respect to the College’s Alcohol Policy.

The student’s failure to comply with the meeting with the Conduct Officer, or completion of the required educational sanctions and follow-up in a timely manner, will result in a formal Conduct Review Meeting, outlined in the Student Conduct Process.

It should be noted that SAMM does not exempt students from any criminal, civil, or legal consequences of their behavior.

[1] Adapted from the Dartmouth College Alcohol Policy and the Rollins College Responsible Action Protocol.