Hosting Social Events

Temple University Guidelines for Hosting and Managing a Safe Social Event:

  • This information will help you identify the methods through which you or your organization will:
    • control service of alcohol
    • promote moderate alcohol consumption
    • respond to alcohol-related medical concerns
  • Each student and/or organization should identify appropriate strategies for creating an environment in which alcohol use is secondary to the event itself and which emphasizes food and activities not related to alcohol so as to minimize the risk associated with its presence.
  • You must give consideration to how you plan to manage each of the following aspects of hosting an event:
  • Entertainment
  • Traffic flow: A plan for both entering and exiting the event
  • Distribution of alcohol to of-age guests only
  • Managing traffic to bathrooms
  • Food/water/alternative beverages (not alcohol)
  • Intoxicated guests (at the door and once in the event)
  • Sober hosts
  • Doorperson/bartender/other necessary persons
  • Other: special circumstances, themes, house structure, outside space, etc.
  • Event hosts should be aware of risks associated with consumption of alcohol.  Hosts should monitor the consumption of alcohol by guests and take appropriate action if any guest displays signs of intoxication.  Campus police should be contacted immediately if any guest appears to need medical attention: (215) 204-1234.
  • Refrain from serving hard alcohol.
  • Limit available alcohol to 12oz cans of beer (not bottles) or 5oz servings of wine.  Serving alcohol from common containers (kegs, self serve, funnels, bongs) poses higher risk. It is safer to offer single servings so that guests can keep track of their alcohol consumption.
  • Limit available alcohol to fewer than four drinks per guest of legal age (assuming one drink/hour)
  • Control the distribution of alcohol using an of-age bartender.
  • It is illegal to charge for alcohol in any way unless the party is located in a facility that has a liquor license. You cannot charge an entry fee, entertainment fee, sell cups, or ask for donations. Any exchange of money for alcohol, or basing access to alcohol dependent on payment of some sort, is considered a sale, which is illegal without a state-issued liquor license.  Charging at the door of parties in which alcohol is available is a crime and students will be cited.
  • Allow guests a period of time during which alcohol is not served to ‘cool off’ before leaving.  It is a good idea to stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the end of the event.
  • In order to be served alcohol, participants must present appropriate identification (Driver's License, Passport, state-issued ID).  A Temple ID card is not a sufficient form of identification to acquire alcohol because it does not include a birth date.  At the entrance, an of-age doorperson who can reasonably identify and differentiate between a legitimate ID and a false ID should be used.
  • For events that include underage participants, efforts must be made to appropriately identify of-age guests, who may acquire alcohol.  Do not wristband or hand-stamp underage guests.  Use these methods to identify of-age people only.
  • Abundant food and non-alcoholic beverages should be served during the event.
  • The amount of alcohol provided should not exceed one standard serving of alcohol per hour. One serving of alcohol is 12oz. of beer, 4-5oz. of wine, or 1.5oz of 80 proof liquor.
  • An appropriately trained bartender should be in control of the service of alcohol. It is higher risk to allow guests to pour or control their own alcohol (i.e., self-pour bottles of wine on tables, kegs). 
  • Remaining alcohol must be disposed of properly.
  • Sober hosts should be use to identify and manage any issues of concern.
  • Ensure that all attendees have a safe way of getting home.  Be prepared to provide alternate transportation for drivers who have had too much to drink (taxis, buses, etc.).  Promote the use of designated drivers.