This policy establishes expectations and procedures for hosting events in MIT residence halls where alcohol may be served and is designed to promote safe event planning, reduce alcohol-related risks, and ensure compliance with federal and state law, MIT policy, and residential community standards.
Registering events through Atlas connects organizers with MIT resources and services needed for a successful event. It also notifies relevant campus partners so that essential services can be coordinated.
These guidelines establish baseline expectations. Heads of House and residence hall communities may implement more restrictive internal protocols, provided they are reviewed with Residential and Community Life staff and communicated to residents at the beginning of each academic year.
Failure to comply with Atlas registration requirements or an approved risk management plan may result in modification or cancellation of an event, restrictions on future events, or referral to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Summary of Event Level Protocols
| Event Type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of attendees age 21+ | < 10 | 10-25 | > 25 |
| Total number of attendees | < 10 for undergrad event <15 for grad event | 10-50 for undergrad event 15-50 for grad event | > 50 |
| Atlas event registration | Not required | Required | Required |
| Third-party bartender | Not required | Required, unless waiver granted | Required |
| Sober monitors | Not required | At least 1, and a minimum ratio of 1 monitor to every 15 guests | At least 2, and a minimum ratio of 1 monitor to every 20 guests |
| Social host training for hosts and sober monitors | Not required | Required | Required |
| MIT Police review | Not required | Required | Required |
| Meeting with Residential Life staff | Not required | Required | Required |
| Lead time for approval | Not applicable | 5 business days | 15 business days |
Level 1 Events
Level 1 gatherings in undergraduate and graduate residence halls do not require registration in Atlas.
Undergraduate Residences
- Students age 21 or older may host a small gathering in their room with fewer than 10 attendees.
- Common spaces that are open to all residents are not permitted to host level 1 events without approval from the house team.
Graduate Residences
- Students age 21 or older may host a small gathering in a room, suite, or apartment with fewer than 15 attendees.
- Small gatherings in common spaces are permitted if the house protocols (see house websites) are followed.
Level 2 Events
All level 2 events must meet the following requirements:
- Events must be registered in Atlas and approved by relevant departments.
- An MIT-approved third-party bartending service is required. Approved MIT bartending services include:
- Muddy Charles Pub
- The Thirsty Ear
- Premier Bartending Services
- Harvard Bartending Services
- Events with more than 10 attendees of legal drinking age require at least one sober monitor. Additional monitors should be added to maintain a ratio of one sober monitor to every 15 attendees. Sober monitors must be age 18 or older.
- Event hosts and sober monitors must complete social host training before the event.
- Government-issued identification must be checked at events, and Residential Life wristbands must be issued to distinguish attendees age 21 and over.
- MIT Police will review event registration to determine whether a police detail is required.
- Event hosts must meet with Residential Life staff to review event planning and safety considerations.
Event registration typically requires five business days for approval.
Level 3 Events
All level 3 events must comply with all requirements for level 2 events as well as the following:
- A third-party bartending service is required.
- At least two sober monitors must be present. Additional monitors should be added to maintain a ratio of one sober monitor to every 20 attendees. Final recommendations for sober monitor staffing levels must be determined in consultation with Residential Life staff.
The registration and approval process for level 3 events typically requires 15 business days.
Event Protocols
Hosting an Event
Residence hall events are defined as:
- Gatherings of 10 or more people where alcohol is present in an undergraduate residence, 15 or more people where alcohol is present in a graduate residence, or
- Gatherings of 25 or more people without alcohol.
- Events must be hosted by a current resident of the residence hall where the event is taking place.
See the chart above for information on the three event levels.
All students who wish to register an event with alcohol, serve as an event or social host, or act as a sober monitor (must be at least 18 years old) must complete the social host training program before the event. This training ensures that hosts and sober monitors understand how to safely manage events with alcohol, adhere to all laws and policies, recognize signs of overconsumption, and intervene in risky situations to prevent harm.
Event Spaces
Under this policy:
- Private spaces, including individual bedrooms and suites/apartments within residences, are generally not considered event spaces.
- Public spaces, include lounges, common areas, and other shared spaces can be event spaces.
If suites or apartments are used as event space, they are considered public spaces for the duration of the event and must meet all applicable event requirements. Hallways and bathrooms cannot be used for alcohol service or included in event capacity calculations.
Attendance and Capacity
Event planners must account for both total attendance and space capacity:
- Total attendance is the number of attendees expected throughout the event, including those who arrive and depart at different times.
- Capacity refers to the maximum number of attendees present at any given time.
Event planners must follow all space reservation and capacity policies and obtain approval for space use from Residential and Community Life staff when required. Capacity limits for residential floor events must comply with City of Cambridge ordinances.
Police Detail
MIT Police review level 2 and level 3 events to determine whether a police detail is necessary. Factors include event size, number of non-MIT guests, alcohol service, and whether money is collected. Police details are most likely to be required for level 3 events.
Funding and Event Costs
MIT funds, including residence hall house tax funds, cannot be used to purchase alcohol. (Exceptions can be made for graduate student events only and are subject to approval by the senior associate dean of residential and community life or their designee.)
Typical event planning costs include the following, which can be paid for using house taxes:
- MIT Police details: approximately $42 per hour (student organization rate)
- Third-party bartending services: approximately $300–$400 per event
Food and Alcohol Service Requirements
Food Service
Food and non-alcoholic beverages must be available at all events where alcohol is served.
Event organizers should plan to spend approximately $2–$3 per attendee on food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol Service
- Alcoholic beverages containing 15% alcohol by volume (ABV) or less may be served at approved student-sponsored and student group-sponsored events. All beverages served at events must be pre-packaged.
- Hard liquor (including in pre-packaged or canned cocktails) is prohibited at residence hall events.
- Alcohol must be served from a centralized service location.
- Alcohol service from private spaces, including individual student rooms, is prohibited.
- Guest lists are required for all events in accordance with residence guest policies.
Drink Limits
To reduce risks associated with high blood alcohol concentration (BAC):
- Events lasting three to four hours may provide a maximum of two drinks served to an individual attendee.
- Events lasting five hours or longer may provide a maximum of three drinks served to an individual attendee.
- Alcohol service should be spaced over time, with no more than one drink served per hour to an individual guest.
- It is the responsibility of the event host to abide by best practices for tracking attendance and alcohol consumption as outlined in the social host training.
Third-Party Bartender Requirement
While Social Host Training provides guidance on responsible hosting, the actual service of alcohol at level 2 and 3 events requires a professional bartender (either MIT-employed or approved third-party vendor). Hiring a bartender ensures safe, controlled distribution of alcohol and compliance with insurance and MIT policies.
Third-party vendors are responsible for providing and removing alcohol from events. Vendors outside of MIT must meet MIT insurance requirements. Bartending services must provide a day license from the City of Cambridge to serve alcohol.
Review Process for Third-Party Bartender Waivers
For undergraduate and graduate level 2 events, organizers may request a review of the requirement for a third-party bartender.
Requests are evaluated holistically by the House Team and event approver using factors including:
- Event size
- Type of event
- Number of non-MIT guests
- Number of underage attendees
- Past event management history
- Completion and recency of Social Host Training
- Other relevant safety considerations
If a waiver is granted, a staff member or Head of House may be required to attend the event.