Emory University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy for Faculty, Staff, and Students


On all its campuses, Emory University and Emory Healthcare adhere to and enforces all state and local laws, regulations and ordinances concerning the use, manufacture, possession, consumption, sale, or distribution of alcohol, illegal drugs, and controlled substances.

Policy Summary

Emory University’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy, Policy 8.8 (http://policies.emory.edu/8.8), expresses the University’s commitment to the health and well-being of its faculty, staff, and student body. As a recipient of federal grants and contracts, Emory University adheres to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (as amended) and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. As administrator of certain state-funded financial aid programs for students, Emory University also adheres to Georgia’s Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990.

Emory University and Emory Healthcare expect all faculty, employees, and students to comply with any applicable federal, state or local laws pertaining to the use, possession, manufacture, dispensation or distribution of alcohol, controlled substances, or illegal drugs; to comply with the requirements of the Emory University’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy for Faculty, Staff and Students (Policy 8.8 ); to comply with Emory University’s Substance Abuse and Drug Free Workplace policy (Policy 4.66);  and, Emory Healthcare’s Substance Use/Abuse Policy – Part 1 and Substance Use/Abuse Policy-Part II, as appropriate.

Under State of Georgia Laws and local city/county ordinances:

  • Possession or use of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 years of age, or distribution of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 years of age, is
  • Furnishing alcoholic beverages to persons who are underage or intoxicated is
  • The sale of alcoholic beverages without a license is The sale of alcoholic beverages within 100 yards of a college campus in the State of Georgia is also prohibited, unless such license was in existence prior to July 1, 1981. “Sale” includes charging admission to any activity where alcoholic beverages are served, even if the beverage is “free” to those who have gained admission.
  • Public consumption, intoxication, and possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in public are prohibited by local ordinances and State

The legal drinking age in Georgia is 21 years of age. Any student or employee under the age of 21 who purchases or knowingly possesses an alcoholic beverage is in violation of state law and University policy. Similarly, any person who furnishes an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 years of age is also in violation.

Alcohol is not permitted in the common areas of residence halls at the University’s Atlanta campus, and Campus Life prescribes several additional rules, regulations and requirements by which students and University organizations must abide regarding the serving of alcohol at various events.

Use of alcohol at university-sponsored events is permitted in accordance with the procedures outlined in Policy 8.8 and applicable federal, state, and local law.

At Oxford College, students are prohibited from on-campus possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages because most Oxford College students are underage.

It is illegal and prohibited by the University for an individual to unlawfully manufacture, possess, use, dispense, sell or distribute controlled substances or illegal drugs (as defined by state and federal law) on all Emory University property.

Any member of the Emory University faculty, staff, student body or other member of the Emory University community who violates any of the Standards of Conduct shall be subject to corrective disciplinary actions and penalties up to and including expulsion from University academic programs, termination of employment, and referral to the appropriate federal, state, or local authorities for prosecution in the courts.

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Programs

  • Greek Life Officer Training – Annually, leaders of sorority and fraternity organizations attend a training where they learn strategies to be more effective leaders for their respective organizations and within the larger Emory community.
  • Student Organization Leadership Training: Registered student organizations are required to attend a training that provides them with an overview of relevant policies, procedures and protocols related to the operation of their organization and hosting events. OHP provides risk-management training regarding hosting events with alcohol. This training includes an overview of the Emory Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy and strategies to host a safe event to reduce associated harms. Additionally, OHP will work directly with student organizations to develop a plan that mitigates and reduces harms and follows Emory University’s policies
  • Multi-level intervention strategy for Residential Students – According to AlcoholEdu, at Emory, of the students who reported drinking 11% of them said that they drank in an on-campus residence hall (Vector Solutions' 2022-2023 Academic Year Impact Report). As such developing a strategy to educate students about policies and harm reduction strategies if they choose to use alcohol is imperative in the residence halls and Resident Advisors are a key audience to mobilize these efforts. Therefore, we created an intervention strategy that educated Resident Advisors about the effective ways to create a safer residential community and serve as peer mentors to educate their residents about safer alcohol use.
  • Residence Life ATOD Program Requests – RAs respond to requests to collaborate or to provide information about AOD-related programs to student residences to increase education, awareness, and prevention of high-risk AOD use. Although RAs are encouraged to conduct these programs within the first six week of the semester, however, they can request programmatic support throughout the year. Programs focus on identifying low-risk behaviors related to alcohol use, impacts of high-risk alcohol use and of drug use, misuse and abuse and identifying resources to support and assist self and others.