Under-age drinking always a concern on campus
Let's put down the books, pick up a pint, and get wasted.
This is the spirit of many students at Fanshawe College, of course after all homework has been completed, but unfortunately many students that become intoxicated from alcohol consumption at this college, as well as many other campuses across Canada, are not of the legal drinking age.
The OBS takes strict precaution in dealing with the underage-drinking phenomenon on campus including holding an individuals student card at the door for the duration of their stay in the OBS, marking underage students hands with an “X” and making sure students wear a wristband as well.
“There isn't anything else we can do as an establishment,” Hall said.
The OBS along with the Fanshawe Student Union delivers a list of underage access penalties every year to ensure students are informed of the consequences of underage drinking on campus, specifically in the OBS.
Students will receive a one-month suspension of privileges for failure to pick up valid student card as they exit an event, up to a four-month suspension for the removal of wrist bands or markings on the back of their hands, and up to an eight month suspension of privileges for handling of alcoholic beverages.
If caught consuming alcohol, up to a one-year suspension of privileges will take effect and any repeat offences will result in an automatic one-year ban. Fanshawe Security will also be notified and it may result in academic probation.
“If students do decide to try and drink underage here, it puts everyone at risk,” Hall said. “We could lose our liquor license and we could be shut down. Then 70 people here would be out of a job, and no one on campus would be allowed to enjoy the Shack.”
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company compiled a Gallup survey in 2006 that displayed the severity and effects of underage alcohol use.
Glynn R. Birch, MADD national president said that awareness is key to cracking down on underage drinking.
“It's clear that we need to educate more parents and adults about the dangers of underage drinking to save young lives and prevent injuries,” Birch said. According to 1999 Drug Strategies statistics, United States college students spend approximately $5.5 billion annually on alcohol. This is more then they spend on soft drinks, milk, juice, tea, coffee and books combined.
This is the spirit of many students at Fanshawe College, of course after all homework has been completed, but unfortunately many students that become intoxicated from alcohol consumption at this college, as well as many other campuses across Canada, are not of the legal drinking age.
Mike Hall, manager of Fanshawe's top watering hole the Out Back Shack (OBS), said that underage drinking is a very serious problem facing the college.
“It is a huge problem,” Hall said. “It isn't the people drinking in our establishment, it is the pre-drinking, that's the biggest thing.”
Hall said he recalled an incident last year when an underage female student chugged a mickey of vodka in her residence room directly before joining the line at an OBS event.
The OBS takes strict precaution in dealing with the underage-drinking phenomenon on campus including holding an individuals student card at the door for the duration of their stay in the OBS, marking underage students hands with an “X” and making sure students wear a wristband as well.
“There isn't anything else we can do as an establishment,” Hall said.
The OBS along with the Fanshawe Student Union delivers a list of underage access penalties every year to ensure students are informed of the consequences of underage drinking on campus, specifically in the OBS.
Students will receive a one-month suspension of privileges for failure to pick up valid student card as they exit an event, up to a four-month suspension for the removal of wrist bands or markings on the back of their hands, and up to an eight month suspension of privileges for handling of alcoholic beverages.
If caught consuming alcohol, up to a one-year suspension of privileges will take effect and any repeat offences will result in an automatic one-year ban. Fanshawe Security will also be notified and it may result in academic probation.
“If students do decide to try and drink underage here, it puts everyone at risk,” Hall said. “We could lose our liquor license and we could be shut down. Then 70 people here would be out of a job, and no one on campus would be allowed to enjoy the Shack.”
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company compiled a Gallup survey in 2006 that displayed the severity and effects of underage alcohol use.
Glynn R. Birch, MADD national president said that awareness is key to cracking down on underage drinking.
“It's clear that we need to educate more parents and adults about the dangers of underage drinking to save young lives and prevent injuries,” Birch said. According to 1999 Drug Strategies statistics, United States college students spend approximately $5.5 billion annually on alcohol. This is more then they spend on soft drinks, milk, juice, tea, coffee and books combined.
