Skip to Content
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC Links
Accessibility Events Libraries Maps Departments ConnectCarolina UNC Search
Counseling And Psychological Services
Home/Self Help/Safe Party Strategies

Self Help Topics

  • Academic Success
  • Alcohol and Other Drugs
  • Body Image and Eating Disorders
  • Meditation and Mindfulness
  • Nutrition Education
  • Physical Activity
  • Relationships
  • Sleep
  • Stress and Anxiety
  • Understanding and Healing from Racial Trauma

Safe Party Strategies

When you host an event, there are four tips for reducing the potential for personal harm and legal liability:

1. Follow the law

  • The legal age to drink is 21 years or older.  Allowing underage consumption at your events increases the likelihood of problems, including legal liability for the behavior of guests.
  • Make sure you understand all other local and state laws concerning the sale, distribution, possession and consumption of alcohol.
  • Understand and follow policies regarding hosting events with alcohol on campus.
  • Know local laws and ordinances with regard to noise and trash.
  • Do not allow illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription medications. Discourage your guests from mixing alcohol and other drugs.

2. Know your guests

  • Most students report that issues such as vandalism, violence, and theft are perpetrated by uninvited guests.
  • Create a guest list, send specific invitations, and monitor the access to the event.
  • Having someone at the door, someone to check IDs or a guest list can help identify underage and unwanted guests.
  • Encourage guests to walk or have a designated driver to get home safely

3. Don’t provide the alcohol

  • You can be held responsible if you provide alcohol to a guest and they leave your event and hurt themselves or hurt someone else.
  • Avoid providing kegs, party juice (PJ), and large open coolers.
  • BYOB at all times, and set limits on quantity of alcohol your guests can bring.
  • Do not sell alcohol or “charge admission”.  This includes selling cups or other containers to use for a common container like a keg. It is against the law to sell alcohol in North Carolina without an ABC permit.

4. Make the event about something other than alcohol

  • The less the event revolves around alcohol, the less likely your guests are to focus solely on drinking.
  • Discourage drinking games, as these only enhance the speed and quantity of consumption, leading to increased risk.
  • Post party rules on the Facebook event, on the front door or in another visible place.
  • Keep music at a reasonable level so people can communicate verbally.
  • Have seating available for conversation.
Sharing and printing options:
LSN Peer chat
Peer Chat
Contact Us

James A. Taylor Building

CB# 7470

320 Emergency Room Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

V: 919-966-3658
T: T-711

[email protected]

Training Programs
Hours

Open Monday - Friday

Initial visits (no appt needed):
9:00 am - 12:00 pm,
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Urgent needs:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Office hours:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

24/7 Phone Line
919-966-3658

Campus Partners

Campus Health

Student Wellness

Campus Rec

Dean of Students

Learning Center

Heels Care Network
Caps Services

Initial CAPS Assessments

Brief Therapy

Medication Management

Academic Interventions

Urgent Concerns

Outreach

Policies

Internship/Practicum Opportunities

UNC Student Affairs
Follow us:
Visit our FacebookVisit our InstagramVisit our TwitterVisit our YouTube channel
x
chat loading...
searchclosechevron-downbars X-logo linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram