Firearms: Firearms are not allowed on campus property. The possession of a firearm on the campus is a violation of South Carolina state law. There are provisions at this time to store firearms for the purpose of sport. Fireworks, air guns, BB guns, pellet guns and paintball guns are also prohibited.

Presbyterian College seeks to educate students concerning the dangers involved in the use of beverage alcohol. Presbyterian College recognizes the social problems inherent in the misuse of alcohol and views such misuse as being detrimental to the educational purposes of the College. Recognizing that the use of alcohol is ultimately a matter of personal decision, the College seeks to provide a social atmosphere on campus that develops individual responsibility free from peer pressure. Through administrators, faculty, counselors, and concerned students, Presbyterian College provides strong support to those students who make a moral or health decision to abstain.

Guided by a sense of responsibility to each student to provide an environment that is conducive to study and that fosters good physical and mental health, the College has adopted the following policies on alcoholic beverages. Drunkenness as a result of the use of alcohol is a violation of the alcohol policy and punishable through the Judicial System. No immunity or exemption is granted for misconduct while under the influence of alcohol.

Mature judgment and discretion are required at all times.

Summary of State and Local Laws Concerning Alcohol

(Note that these laws are subject to change)

SECTION 56-5-2930.
It is unlawful for anyone to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

SECTION 61-6-4070.
It is unlawful for a person to transfer or give to a person under the age of twenty-one years for the purpose of consumption alcoholic liquors at any place in the State. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.

SECTION 61-6-4080.
(A) A person engaged in the sale of alcoholic liquors who knowingly sells the liquors to a person under the age of twenty-one is guilty of a misdemeanor and must, upon conviction, be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days, or both, in the discretion of the court.
(B) Failure of a person to require identification to verify a person’s age is prima facie evidence of the violation of this section.

SECTION 61-4-50.
(A) It is unlawful for a person to sell beer, ale, porter, wine, or other similar malt or fermented beverage to a person under twenty-one years of age. A person who makes a sale in violation of this section must, upon conviction, be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days, or both, in the discretion of the court.
(B) Failure of a person to require identification to verify a person’s age is prima facie evidence of the violation of this section.

SECTION 61-4-60.
It is unlawful for a person to whom beer or wine cannot be lawfully sold to knowingly give false information concerning his age for the purpose of purchasing beer or wine. A person who violates the provisions of this section, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

SECTION 61-4-80.
It is unlawful for a person who purchases beer or wine while on licensed premises to give the beer or wine to a person to whom beer or wine cannot lawfully be sold for consumption on the premises. A person who violates this section must, upon conviction, be fined not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

SECTION 61-4-90.
It is unlawful for a person to transfer or give to a person under the age of twenty-one years for the purpose of consumption beer or wine at any place in the State. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.

SECTION 61-6-1530(2) and SECTION 61-4-110.
A person may transport alcoholic liquors, beer or wine to and from a place where alcoholic liquors, beer or wine may be lawfully possessed or consumed; but if the cap or seal on the container has been opened or broken, it is unlawful to transport alcoholic liquors, beer or wine in a motor vehicle, except in the luggage compartment or cargo area.

City Laws

Sec. 6-2.
It is unlawful for any person to be in a drunken condition in any public place, upon the premises of any place of business whether within or without a building, or upon any street or sidewalk or in any vehicle at any such place within the corporate limits of the city.

Sec. 6-3
It shall be unlawful for any person to drink or consume any alcoholic beverage, including,
but not limited to, beer, wine or other types of intoxicating beverages, outside the licensed premises in which such alcoholic beverages are sold, including city streets and sidewalks.

Definitions

1. An Alcoholic Beverage means any spirituous malt, vinous, fermented, brewed (whether lager or rice beer) or other liquors or any compound or mixture thereof by whatever name called or known that contains alcohol and is used as a beverage.
2. A Social Event (major or closed) is any registered activity at which alcohol is present.
3. A Major Event is any social activity that is open to all members of the Presbyterian College community. Greek organizations can only have fully open events if permitted by their national risk management guidelines.
4. A Closed Event is a social event open only to members and guests of a host organization.
5. An Acceptable Container is any metal, plastic or paper container. Glass is not an acceptable container.
6. Common Container is any keg, pony keg, trash can, or other similar device used for storing or mixing a quantity of beverage or from which a quantity of beverage is distributed to, or consumed by, more than one person.
7. Public Area includes campus grounds, Intramural Complex, athletic facilities, classrooms, stairwells, lobbies, hallways and restrooms, and Springs Campus Center.
8. Non-public Area includes “wet” residence hall rooms, townhouses and adjacent grounds, Charlotte Hawkins Brown House and adjacent grounds, fraternity houses and adjacent grounds (inside the outer horseshoe road).
9. A Wet Room is a residence hall room where all students living in the room are of age 21. When all the residents are 21, they must register their room as wet with their RA before alcohol is permitted.
10. The Sale of Alcohol is any transfer, trade exchange, or barter in any manner by any means for consideration of alcohol (e.g., cover charges, mug/t-shirt sales, etc.)
11. The Use of Alcoholic Beverages includes possession, consumption, distribution, purchase, sale, or transfer of alcoholic beverages.

General Provisions Regarding the Consumption and Possession of Alcohol

1. The purchase, possession, or consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus is permitted only by those of legal drinking age.
2. Aiding and abetting in the sale or transfer of alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of twenty-one years is prohibited.
3. All persons consuming alcohol must carry a valid picture ID
4. While alcoholic beverages may be consumed by those of legal drinking age in non-public areas, they may not be consumed in any public area except for special functions in Springs or at the Intramural Complex, approved by the Vice President for Student Life.
5. No person, regardless of age, is permitted to have an open container of alcohol in a public area on the PC campus.
6. The use of alcoholic beverages as a prize in a contest, drawing, lottery, etc. is prohibited.
7. Groups and/or individuals in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action.
8. At no time are kegs or other common containers of alcohol allowed on the campus. Glass containers are allowed only inside of wet residence hall rooms. Once the seal on a glass container of alcohol is broken, it cannot be removed from that room.

College Regulations For the Use of Alcohol at Organizational and Community Events

Presbyterian College faculty, staff, students and organizations are expected to know the college alcohol policy that precedes this statement. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at college-sponsored events except for those events approved by the Vice President for Students Life or the President. Organizations and individuals that host an event on or off-campus at which alcohol will be present may be held responsible for the actions and well being of their members and guests. Social events are given by independent groups that are not agents of the College.

The following requirements are the minimum standard to be followed. Organizations governed by regulations from other bodies such as the NCAA, national fraternities, national sororities, and others may have additional regulations that must be met.

1. The college expects any group of students, either formally or informally organized, to conform to the laws of South Carolina.
2. Social event registration forms are to be filed with the Director of Student Activities and Greek Life at least a week prior to the event.
3. All approved social events (on or off campus) individually sponsored or under the aegis of a student organization, fraternity or sorority shall be BYOB, third party vendor or dry events. The expectation for BYOB events is that only those persons of legal age will bring alcohol.
4. Presbyterian College expects those students who are under age 21 to refuse an alcoholic beverage if one is offered.
5. At any social event, students shall be required to show their own Presbyterian College ID card to the designated monitor and comply with the Blue Dot Sticker System.
6. Guests of PC students are required to have a valid picture ID card with their birth date listed.
7. If alcoholic beverages are present, non-salty food items and non-alcoholic beverages must be available throughout the event.
8. Social events may not include any form of “drinking contests and/or games” in their activities or promotions. No alcoholic beverages may be awarded as prizes or incentives.
9. To promote personal responsibility and self-governance, organizations that sponsor social events shall assume the responsibility of enforcing these guidelines. The sponsoring organization shall designate at least two students to serve as monitors for the event. The monitors must not consume alcoholic beverages before or during the event. Monitors must “ID”, comply with the Blue Dot Sticker System, issue wrist bands to those of age, and register the organizational members and their guests at the entrance, and they shall assist those responsible for the event. Hosts and monitors are responsible for assisting in making arrangements for the safety of those who appear to be impaired.
10. Public safety officers and staff members may visit registered events periodically to check with the persons responsible for the event, primarily to offer assistance. If a violation of the law or college policy is observed, the officer will issue a violation and report the incident to the appropriate college official.
11. Institutionally approved security personnel must be present at all times during a registered social event with a guest list of 75 or more. Additional restrictions will be enforced at major events to which the entire student body is invited. These restrictions include limiting the number of alcoholic beverages that may be brought to an event by individuals or limiting the number of drinks purchased at third-party events.
12. Advertisements, posters or invitations from student groups that are intended for public viewing may not mention or depict alcohol or use terms referring to alcohol such as beer or happy hour.

The following sanctions will be the normal penalties for alcohol violations. Please note that these sanctions are cumulative over a student’s career at PC and do not restart each academic year.

1. First Offense – $75.00 fine, 12 hours community service/work and an online alcohol education course, Alcohol Edu. Parents may be contacted and an alcohol assessment may be required depending upon the circumstance.
2. Second Offense – $150.00 fine, 12 hours community service/work, and an online alcohol education course, Alcohol Edu (or comparable educational activity assigned by the Dean of Student Life or designee). Parents will be contacted.
3. Third Offense – Suspension.

Presbyterian College prohibits its students from possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia including, but not limited to, opiates, barbiturates, amphetamines, marijuana and hallucinogens, except for legally authorized medical purposes. The Vice President for Student Life has the discretion to refer to drug violations to the Honor Council.

Students found guilty of possession or use of illegal drugs normally will be suspended or expelled from the College. This policy is equally applicable whether students are found guilty off-campus by civil authorities or on campus by college authorities. Students who forfeit a bond required under a formal charge of possession or use of illegal drugs are also suspended or expelled from Presbyterian College.

However, this policy does not preclude students who find themselves faced with a drug problem from seeking help from members of the college faculty and staff. Those who seek help prior to being charged with a violation are not subject to the penalties stated above.