The Queen’s Alcohol Policy claims a commitment to harm reduction, however, after reading the policy more closely, it appears as though the main goal is simply less drinking on campus. During peak party weekends like Homecoming, misunderstanding the definition of harm reduction may be putting students at greater risk.
Harm reduction is an understanding that some behaviours are going to happen whether institutions approve or not, and rather than trying to stop them, it asks how to make these behaviours safer. It’s the same logic behind naloxone kits, sex education, and drug testing services. When applied to drinking, it means accepting that students will drink and focusing on where, how, and what supports are available.
The Queen’s Alcohol Policy often does the opposite. Campus pubs cannot serve shots or shooters during peak periods, like Orientation Week, Homecoming, Halloween, and St. Patrick’s Day. Mixed drinks are capped at two ounces of liquor, drink specials are prohibited, and Special Occasion Permits for tailgating are banned on university property.
While each individual rule sounds responsible on paper, together, they make campus the least appealing place to drink, especially on weekends when students are drinking the most.
To be fair, parts of the policy are genuine harm reduction. Food must be offered wherever alcohol is served. Pub staff, orientation leaders, and residence dons are required to receive alcohol training. Designated drivers get free non-alcoholic drinks at campus pubs, and hazing is prohibited.
However, with excessive restrictions on alcohol service, campus events can’t come close to competing with $3.75 singles at Stage Rage or a pregame at home.
We know that the policy doesn’t stop students from drinking, they just do it somewhere else. On Homecoming, that means crowded house parties, packed streets and downtown clubs, where nobody is monitoring alcohol consumption and where students are farther from safety services like StuCons, Walkhome, the Campus Observation Room, Queen’s First Aid, and Campus Security.
Other universities have taken a different approach. Last weekend, the University of Ottawa hosted a homecoming tailgate in a campus residence parking lot, with bring-your-own-beer for students 19+, a food truck on site, and free shuttles to the football game. Western also pairs its larger football games with tailgates at their stadium. For these schools, drinking can be controlled in a space with adequate oversight and safety services nearby.
The Alcohol Policy is up for review this year, and Queen’s has the opportunity to look at harm reduction more holistically. That doesn’t mean getting rid of the policy altogether. It means asking whether each regulation makes students safer or simply moves drinking out of sight, especially on the busiest nights of the year.
A good alcohol policy isn’t one that pushes drinking off campus. It’s one that gets students home safely at the end of each night.
Tags
Alcohol policy, AMS Column, harm reduction, party culture
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to eic@queensjournal.ca.