Alcohol and Drugs

The use of alcoholic beverages should be in compliance with approved state, federal, and local laws, including, but not limited to the following:

• A person less than 21 years of age shall not purchase alcohol, consume alcohol in licensed premises, or possess alcohol. A person who furnishes fraudulent identification to a person less than 21 years of age, or a person less than 21 years of age who uses a fraudulent identification to purchase alcoholic liquor, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

• Alcohol shall not be sold or furnished to a person unless the person has attained 21 years of age. A person who knowingly sells or furnishes alcoholic liquor to a person who is less than 21 years of age is guilty of a misdemeanor. This includes hosting under-21 residents in an over-21 apartment where the minor is found to have consumed alcohol.

• A person less than 21 years of age shall not knowingly transport or possess, in a motor vehicle, alcohol unless the person is employed by a licensee under the Liquor Control Commission Act or an agent of the Liquor Control Commission and is transporting or having the alcohol in a motor vehicle under the person’s control during regular working hours and in the course of the person’s employment. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor.

• A person shall not transport or possess alcohol in a container which is open, uncapped, or upon which the seal is broken, within the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Alcoholic beverages may be possessed and/or consumed by members of the Housing community who are of legal status to possess or consume such beverages as defined by the laws of the State of Alaska. Consumption and possession of alcohol beverages is restricted to apartments designated as “Over-21 Units.” Alcoholic beverages are not to be possessed or consumed at any time or place in UAS Student Housing or its buildings unless specifically authorized by the provisions of this policy. Residents who are unsure of their unit status or who wish to request a status change (after the last ‘under 21’ roommate celebrates their 21st birthday) should consult with Residence Life staff.

• Students eligible to possess or consume alcoholic beverages are to do so only within the privacy of the apartments of students who can legally possess or consume alcoholic beverages. Any apartment in which all residents are of legal age will be designated an “Over-21 Unit,”, and can thereby host the consumption of alcohol by any persons of legal age. An apartment in which even one resident is under the age of 21 shall be designated an “Under-21 Unit,” and will remain a substance-free apartment until such time that all roommates are over-21. 

  • Alcohol is not to be stored or consumed in an “Under-21 Unit,” even in private rooms of those residents who are over the age of 21.

  • The entirety of John Pugh Hall is a substance-free facility.

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages “in the privacy of (a resident’s) apartment” is interpreted to mean only within the apartment, with the door to the apartment closed, and with no more than 12 persons in an apartment at one time. 

  • Students under 21 years of age may not be present in an “Over-21 Unit” when alcohol containers are open and/or alcohol is being consumed.

• No common sources of alcohol or other concentrations of alcohol which require a common container are allowed on the campus or any of its facilities, e.g., “trash cans.” Containers requiring the use of a “tap system” are also not allowed in Student Housing or in any of its facilities. Kegs and similar containers may not even be present when empty, used as furniture or decoration, etc. Likewise, excessive amounts of liquor bottles in any single apartment may be considered a common source of alcohol. Individuals found to be responsible for common sources of alcohol may be fined and alcohol will be confiscated and disposed of immediately.

• Alcohol is not to be consumed outside of an “Over-21” unit. This may include but is not limited to porches, roofs, decks or other exterior structures of living units, nor on their lawns or grounds. Under this provision, alcohol is not to be consumed in common areas within the Housing complex, including anywhere in the Lodge or in outdoor common areas such as the pavilion, the basketball court, sidewalks, or parking lot.

• Any alcohol found to be in the possession or presence of under-21 year-old individuals will be confiscated and disposed of immediately.

• Residents under the age of 21 may not possess or transport empty bottles or alcohol containers, nor any glass or container in which alcohol residue or remnants can be detected. These materials will be considered alcohol paraphernalia and be confiscated by the responding staff members.

• Distilling, fermenting, and brewing of beer and other spirits are not permitted on premises.

• Public intoxication and disorderly conduct of an intoxicated individual, including a resident who may legally consume alcohol, will be considered a violation of the alcohol policy.

• The suspected violation of any portion of this alcohol policy may result in the search of the living unit where the violation is to take place.

Heavily intoxicated individuals have a high risk of experiencing at least some symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Students who are aware that another individual who has been consuming alcohol is completely unresponsive should not simply assume that he/she has simply “passed out.” If attempts to rouse the person are unsuccessful, he/she may be in dire need of medical attention. Breathing may slow to dangerously low rates or students may choke on their own vomit if left unattended. Alcohol poisoning is just what it sounds like: the body is literally poisoned by excessive amounts of a toxic substance until the point where organs may begin to shut down or brain damage occurs. Other symptoms of alcohol poisoning is vomiting uncontrollably or vomiting blood, dilated pupils or uneven/unresponsive pupils, or seizures. These symptoms indicate an immediate need for medical care or assessment. Because individuals’ physiology and genetic predispositions vary greatly, one amount of alcohol may be just enough to give one person a “buzz,” while it is enough to put another into grave medical risk.

If you believe someone is experiencing Alcohol Poisoning, contact 911 immediately. After contacting 911, contact the RA On Duty at (907) 209-6539 for the Main Housing Complex or (907) 209-6534 for the John Pugh Residence Hall.

Due to the federal funding and grants UAS and its students recieve annually, the possession, use or sale of drugs and narcotics, including marijuana, as specified by the State of Alaska and federal laws and regulations, is not allowed on campus, including Student Housing. Any resident(s) involved in such actions will be subject to the conduct process and considered for major sanctions to include, but not limited to, eviction.

All Student Housing property, both external and including enclosed buildings within Student Housing, including Banfield Hall, the Housing Lodge, John Pugh Hall, and the apartments, are smoke and tobacco free. Smoking within the residential units carries a steep penalty in addition to cleaning charges.

• Tobacco use is prohibited in every Student Housing building, including student residences, as well as in the managed university vehicles. Students found to have been smoking in their unit will be charged a $250 fine and may be assessed a fee to cover professional cleaning costs of the room, shampooing of the carpeting, etc.
• Vaping and electronic cigarettes (“e-cigs”) are both prohibited in Student Housing units, as well, due to interference with smoke detectors and false positive alarms that can result.
• Any violations of the above policy may also result in conduct action as Failure to Comply with university directive.