Alcohol at MIT Events

All Institute events where alcohol will be available must be registered through the event registration process described above. Event Registration requires that groups interested in serving alcohol at their event obtain permission to do so. If alcohol will be served, we encourage you to allow an extra week of planning time to obtain the proper approvals. For student groups to obtain approval to serve alcohol, they MUST first submit an Alcohol Proposal Form.

At any event where alcohol is available, non-alcoholic beverages and substantial amounts of food are required.

The Event Host

The event host at student sponsored events is the individual from the sponsoring MIT organization, department, or hall who takes primary responsibility for the event. They must:

  • Be a member of the MIT community
  • Be 21 years of age (note: if an Alcohol License is required, then the Event Host must also have a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License, MA state liquor I.D., or U.S. Passport)
  • Be present for the entire event
  • Be sober and not consume alcohol during the event

In cases where events are co-hosted or co-sponsored with organizations not affiliated with the Institute, MIT will hold the Institute host to be primarily responsible for the event. In addition, many Institute offices will only accept reservations and logistical arrangements made by the MIT affiliated host. For information on guidelines for serving alcohol at MIT events, see Event Regulations.

Student Sponsored Events

All student-sponsored events at which alcohol will be served must be authorized by a member of the Academic Council or an appropriate designee. In addition, undergraduate students or organizations must register events where alcohol will be served with the Student Activities Office; the Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups Office; or the Residential Life Programs Office, and graduate students or organizations must register events where alcohol will be served with the Graduate Students Office or a designee of the Dean for Graduate Students.

In general, student organizations may not use Institute funds, including “house taxes” and student activities fees to purchase alcohol, though such funds may be used to hire bonded bartenders and/or party monitors. However, for events hosted by graduate student dormitory governments or by housemasters in graduate student housing, MIT funds may be used to purchase alcohol where no one under the age of 21 will be present, and provided the event has been appropriately registered.

Department Hosted Events

In certain circumstances, a department may determine that hosting an event with alcohol on- or off-campus is in keeping with its mission. Examples include community-building events offered by the Student Life Office or conference receptions or dinners hosted by the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship. In these cases, the department must register, host, and monitor the event in keeping with MIT and MIT Sloan alcohol policies. Student organizations (e.g., the Sloan Activities Board, the VCPE Club) may co-sponsor these events, but they may not supply money for alcohol. This process and the forms required differ from that described above. Please see the Student Life Office for details.

MIT Academic Departments, Laboratories, Centers, and Administrative Units

Events that are sponsored by MIT academic departments, laboratories, centers, and administrative units and are being held on the MIT campus (except at Gray House) where alcohol will be served must be authorized by a member of the Academic Council or an appropriate designee. In addition, such events must be registered with the Information Center. (In certain circumstances, the Director of Conference Services may waive formal registration at their discretion.) Events that are sponsored by MIT academic departments, laboratories, centers, and administrative units and that are being held off the MIT campus, must be authorized by a member of the Academic Council or an appropriate designee but need not be registered.

MIT academic departments, laboratories, centers, and administrative units may not use Institute funds to purchase alcohol for events where persons under the age of 21 may be present unless a waiver has been granted by a member of the Academic Council or an appropriate designee. A waiver may be granted based on a determination that all relevant state and local laws and regulations, as well as MIT policies, are understood and will be observed.

External Events

Some student events, on or off campus (particularly conferences) may wish to seek an external entity to host and sponsor a reception or dinner that involves consumption of alcohol. It is essential that such an external sponsor fully own the event (from the event oversight, financial, and risk management perspectives) so this is not simply a “work around” to MIT policies. This process and the forms required differ from that described above. Please see the Student Life Office for details.