General Statement

The University is concerned about ways in which alcohol use and abuse may affect the primary academic mission of the institution, its overall atmosphere and the personal well-being of University community members. Most events and activities supported and hosted at the University of Alaska are alcohol free. However, there are a limited number of locations, events, and activities where alcohol may be appropriately served in modest quantities within a controlled environment.

The primary objectives of the University’s policies and procedures on alcoholic beverages are: 

  • to promote public safety on campuses and at University-sponsored events;

  • to promote responsible behavior and attitudes among all members of the University community; 

  • to encourage educated decision making by University employees regarding the service and use of alcohol; and

  • to maintain a healthy atmosphere on campus.

Applicability

This policy covers the consumption of alcoholic beverages by any individual on University lands, at University facilities, and at all University events held both on and off campus. This policy also provides guidelines for the possession and consumption of alcohol by students and employees during University-related travel.

Alcohol Use, Service, and Possession

Unless expressly permitted, consumption of beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Individuals may not be intoxicated to the extent that they are unable to exercise care for their own health or safety. The possession of alcoholic beverages by individuals under the age of 21 is expressly prohibited. The Chancellor, Seawolf Dining Program Director, College Directors, and Community Campus Directors have the authority to approve events and locations where alcoholic beverages may be served to individuals of legal age.

The University of Alaska Anchorage complies fully with federal, state, and local laws regarding the possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Individuals who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action as well as local, state, and federal legal penalties. This policy is supported by the UAA Student Code of Conduct with application to both students and student organizations, in addition to human resources policies with regards to employees.

Individuals who choose to drink should understand the risks associated with doing so, including short and long-term health risks, and increased risk for motor vehicle crashes, violence, and sexual risk behaviors. In order to reduce the risks and harms associated with alcohol consumption individuals should consume alcohol in moderation. Moderation is defined as no more than 1 drink per hour and a maximum of 3 standard drinks on a single occasion. A standard drink of alcohol is 12 oz of beer (approximately 5% alcohol by volume), 5 oz of wine (approximately 12% alcohol by volume), or 1.5 oz of liquor (approximately 40% alcohol by volume). Individuals should always designate a sober driver, consume food before or during drinking, and also drink non-alcoholic beverages. Driving under the influence is strictly prohibited.

Display of Alcohol Containers

Display of alcoholic beverages are prohibited except during designated times and at locations where service of alcoholic beverages has been approved. Displays of empty alcohol containers are also prohibited unless they are being used for an academic reason, such as an educational program, a classroom demonstration, or an art project.  

Procedures for Events Where Alcoholic Beverages Are Served or Sold

The University requires advance approval and compliance with the following procedures for events where alcoholic beverages are served or sold including student organization events:

  1. Beer and wine are the only alcoholic beverages permitted. The possession of kegs and other large quantities of alcoholic beverages will only be allowed by special permission of the Chancellor. 

  2. Individuals must present valid state or federal identification verifying their date of birth and eligibility to consume alcohol prior to being served an alcoholic beverage. 

  3. University staff, contractors, and representatives will refuse the distribution or sale of alcohol to any guest who appears to be intoxicated, inebriated, or impaired from alcohol or other drugs.

  4. Any beer and wine served must stay within a well-defined and controlled environment. Participants may not remove alcoholic beverages from this setting.

  5. Participants may not provide their own alcoholic beverages. 

  6. Drinking games, contests or any activity that encourages the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

  7. The event must be private (not open to the general public), except in the Alaska Airlines Center (AAC), the AVIS Alaska Sports Complex (AASC), or unless granted special permission from the Chancellor or designee.

  8. The event must be limited to a specified time period at a designated location.

  9. The serving or sale of alcoholic beverages must end a minimum of 30 minutes before the end of the event.

  10. Food and non-alcoholic beverages must be provided.

  11. The sale of beer or wine at university-sanctioned events on campus is not permitted, except in the Alaska Airlines Center, the AVIS Alaska Sports Complex, or unless granted special permission from the Chancellor.

  12. Alcohol beverages may not be sold at off-campus events unless the provision and sale of alcohol is done by a vendor with a State of Alaska liquor license and the vendor agrees in advance to adhere to these procedures.

  13. UAA student organizations may not have alcohol be the main focus of an event. 

  14. UAA student organizations may not serve beer or wine at meetings where official student organization business is being conducted.

  15. The individual(s) requesting that alcoholic beverages be served at an event, those monitoring the event, and individual participants consuming alcohol are responsible for any behavior that may violate the safety, rights, or property of others.

  16. Alcoholic beverages may not be purchased with University or public funds, with the exception of appropriate unrestricted foundation accounts. If an account does not exist within the division against which to charge such expenditures, a request may be made to the Chancellor for funds to cover the cost via the UAA Request for Serving Beer/Wine.

  17. Alcohol should not be the main focus of the event and is not to be mentioned or implied in publicity for the event or venue.

  18. Except as it pertains to the Alaska Airlines Center or AVIS Alaska Sports Complex, a limit of three alcoholic drinks per person who is at least 21 years old must be enforced (12 oz. beers or 5 oz. serving of wine).

  19. The approving authority may require additional conditions, based on the nature of the specific event, the location of the event, and/or the intended participants of the event.

UAA Policy for Beer/Wine Sales in the Alaska Airlines Center and AVIS Alaska Sports Complex

  1. Solely within the confines of the Alaska Airlines Center and AVIS Alaska Sports Complex, only beer and wine may be sold and/or distributed by authorized concessionaires in accordance with the approved UAA Guidelines for Beer and Wine Sales in the Alaska Airlines Center and licensing requirements of the State of Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board and the Municipality of Anchorage. 

  2. The UAA Guidelines for Beer and Wine Sales in the Alaska Airlines Center and subsequent changes must be approved by the UAA Chancellor and address responsible consumption education and training, service locations, and service restrictions. 

  3. Guests of the AAC and AASC are bound by all state and local laws and ordinances. A violation of any applicable public law or ordinance by a non-University student or employee will result in disciplinary action and/or prosecution by civil authorities. Violation of any applicable public law or ordinance by University-affiliated student, employee or contractor will be considered a violation of University rules and regulations and will result in University disciplinary action and/or prosecution by civil authorities.

UAA Guidelines for Serving Beer/Wine in the Alaska Airlines Center and AVIS Alaska Sports Complex

The rules for beer and wine sales and consumption in the Alaska Airlines Center and AVIS Alaska Sports Complex aim to balance the desires of Seawolf fans, while also promoting responsible alcohol consumption, ensuring the safety of students, employees and guests, and respecting our university neighbors. These guidelines apply to all beer and wine sales and service provided by the contracted concessionaire. Instances where beer and/or wine is not provided or served by the contracted concessionaire (i.e., donated, private funding), requires an approved UAA Beer/Wine Request Form and adherence to the University of Alaska Anchorage Alcohol Policy.

  1. Responsible Consumption Education and Training

    1. The contracted concessionaire for beer and wine sales must ensure all beer and wine servers, and their supervisors and persons providing security through their employment in the AAC and AASC receive State approved alcohol server training prior to employment.

    2. The contracted concessionaire will discipline, up to and including termination and personal liability, servers for failing to adhere to Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) and university guidelines.

    3. The building manager for the AAC and AASC are responsible for ensuring all patron service staff (i.e., ushers, ticket takers, parking attendants, security, etc.) receive alcohol training prior to working at an event where beer and wine will be sold or consumed. Training must include

      1. overview of alcohol laws,

      2. identification of intoxicated individuals,

      3. proper techniques for checking identification, and

      4. dealing with difficult situations involving intoxicated individuals.

    4. The contracted concessionaire will implement a responsible alcohol consumption education program at each event where beer and/or wine is consumed, that includes placards, brochures, promotion of community resources, and public address announcements.

    5. The contracted concessionaire will develop and adhere to a written Alcohol Management Plan, covering: pre-event planning, roles and responsibilities of staff including designated behavior observers, protocol for addressing behavior, threshold for removing a patron, circumstances for ceasing all beer and wine sales, reporting incidents, and post-event review and documentation. The Alcohol Management Plan and subsequent changes require the approval of the Executive Director of Campus Services.

    6. Regular employees of the contracted concessionaire and building manager must undergo a background check before being employed in the AAC or AASC. Employees with negative findings on a background check will require the approval for hire from the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services.

  2. Service Locations

Beer and wine may be sold and consumed in the following locations:

In the Alaska Airlines Center 

  • the immediate area of the restaurant,
  • the south-east facing outdoor balcony,
  • inside rented suite boxes,
  • the green room, and
  • arena seating designated as “wet,” meaning an area where alcohol may be consumed.

In the AVIS Alaska Sports Complex in arena seating designated as “wet.” 

The sale and/or consumption of beer and wine is prohibited in:

  • private offices,
  • training or locker rooms,
  • general lobby areas,
  • parking lots, and
  • surrounding exterior grounds.
  1. Restrictions and Requirements

    1. In both the AAC and AASC, no more than 50% of arena seating may be designated as “wet” for consuming beer and wine.

    2. The contracted Concessionaire will ensure access to “wet” arena seating is controlled, monitored, well-signed and restricted to patrons twenty-one years of age or older.

    3. UAA employees and patrons are prohibited from bringing alcohol into the arena.

    4. The contracted concessionaire is the sole source for all beer and wine.

    5. No beer or wine may be sold at events where the anticipated average age of
      attendees is less than twenty-one, as determined by the building manager.

    6. Except for rented suite boxes in the AAC, beer and wine sales are restricted to pre-designated, stationary point of sales stands. Hawking and self-service is not permitted.

    7. Patrons will be limited to one beer or wine beverage purchase per person per
      transaction.

    8. The contracted concessionaire is responsible for ensuring that beer and wine will not be sold to or consumed by intoxicated individuals.

    9. UAA employees are prohibited from serving alcohol on behalf of the contracted Concessionaire.

    10. Except for the restaurant in the AAC, beer and wine sales may not begin more than one hour before the official start time of an event and must end no less than thirty minutes before the event concludes or at 11 p.m., whichever is earlier. During hockey games in the AASC, all alcohol sales will cease with 10 minutes remaining in the 3rd period. Exceptions to service hours for special events may be approved by the UAA Chancellor.

    11. In the AAC restaurant, beer and wine sales may not begin before 11:30 a.m. and may not extend beyond 11:00 p.m.

    12. At each event where beer or wine is available for consumption, the contracted Concessionaire is responsible for periodically reviewing the overall atmosphere of the crowd and must shorten the sales cut-off time when warranted.

    13. Food and non-alcoholic beverages must always be available at an event at which beer and/or wine is being sold or consumed.

    14. The contracted Concessionaire for beer and wine sales will abide by all UAA, city, state and federal rules, policies, ordinances and laws pertaining to the sale of beer and wine. Furthermore, the vendor will ensure that the consumption of beer and wine is done in a manner consistent with all laws, University Regulation, Regent’s Policy and UAA rules and procedures.

    15. Beer and wine will not be sold at events that are sponsored by or supported with mandatory student fees without the advance written consent of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

    16. Beer service containers must be uniquely identifiable and no larger than 16 fluid ounces. Wine service containers must be uniquely identifiable and no larger than 6 fluid ounces.

    17. Violations of state and local laws and ordinances, and/or violations of University rules and regulations regarding the sale, possession or consumption of beer or wine must be reported in writing to the Dean of Students, Executive Director of Campus Services, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services within 48 hours.

    18. The building manager will require that all tenant users provide proof of insurance, or to purchase Tenants' and Users' Liability Insurance Policy (TULIP). Concessionaires are required to maintain Crime coverage with UAA named as joint loss payee. The building manager must ensure that the concessionaire maintains certificates on file and ensures that UAA is named as additional insured on the liability coverage however provided (TULIP or separate GL coverage).

    19. Adequate insurance coverage limits for events must include: $4,000,000 for GL/Liquor including excess limit and $1M for auto and statutory minimums for WC.