Document Quick Links:

• Summary of alcohol rules and regulations
• Drinking and driving summary of penalties

Permission to serve alcohol on campus must be obtained by application to the Alcohol Review Board in Capen 252 (716-645-6154).

Persons under 21 may not posses or consume alcohol in the residence halls. For persons over 21, possession shall be for personal consumption only in the privacy of student rooms. Open alcohol containers are not permitted outside of student rooms. The following amount of alcohol may not be exceeded (by a resident student over 21): one case of beer or two liters of wine, or one liter of distilled spirits. Kegs, "beer balls" and bulk dispensers are not permitted.

All provisions of the New York State Beverage Control (ABC) Law and all rules of the State Liquor Authority apply to the State University of New York at Buffalo. Special attention should be paid to the following summary of regulations:

1. Procuring alcohol for a minor: "Any person who misrepresents the age of a person under the age of 21 years for the purpose of inducing the sale of any alcoholic beverage...to such person is guilty of an offense and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $200, or by imprisonment or attempting to purchase any alcoholic beverage, may be arrested." (ABC Law Sec. 65b)
2. Use of false I.D.: "Any person under the age of 21 years who presents or offers to any license...any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or not actually his or her own, for the purpose of purchasing or attempting to purchase alcoholic beverage, may be arrested." (ABC Law Sec. 65b)
3. Underage drinking: "No person under the age of 21 years shall possess any alcoholic beverage...with intent to consume such beverage." (ABC Law Sec. 65c)
4. Authority of police or peace officers to confiscate: "Whenever a peace officer...or police officer...shall observe a person under the age of 21 openly in possession of an alcoholic beverage...with intent to consume such beverage...said officer may seize the beverage, and shall deliver it to the custody of his or her department." (ABC Law Sec. 65c)
   

Never mix drinking and driving. Take a taxi home or ask a friend to drive you home. The following is a list of penalties for drunk driving:

Alcohol Violations and Penalties

VIOLATION	SUMMARY OF VIOLATION	PENALTY
Driving While Ability Impaired	Person driving in public area with more than .05 up to .09 blood alcohol level content.	1st arrest $250 fine, up to 15 days in jail, 90-day suspension of license.
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)	Person driving in public area with more than .10 blood alcohol level content.	1st arrest $350-500 fine, up to 1 year in jail, minimum 6-month revocation of license.
Consuming on public highway; Open alcohol in vehicle	No alcoholic beverage can be consumed on public highways; no opened container allowed in passenger area of vehicle.	Up to $100 fine and/or up to 15 days in jail.

Also remember that insurance rates go up when you are convicted of DWI. A survey of area insurance companies revealed that if a driver is convicted of an alcohol related driving offense they are referred to the "risk pool" where coverage for liability alone averages $2,000 and full coverage from $3,000-$6,000.

University Police conducts workshops on the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse. The Counseling Center offers counseling on substance abuse concerns (including group counseling for Adult Children of Alcoholics) and provides referrals as needed. The Student Health Center works together with Bry-Lin Hospital to provide a one-time, free, and confidential assessment of alcohol & drug abuse, followed by a referral for treatment if indicated.

Related Sites

Parking & Transportation