Alcohol and Drug Policies
Alcohol Policy
The alcohol policy was written by the Student Affairs Committee on which students, faculty, and administrators serve together. The Student Affairs Committee has final authority over the regulations that govern student life at Pomona College. Pomona College follows and enforces all federal, state, and local laws governing alcohol consumption and distribution.
In addition to enforcing state and federal laws, Pomona has also developed policies that try to reduce individual and community harm and allow students to be educated about alcohol use when mistakes are made.
Although the College cannot provide treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, there are numerous on- and off-campus resources including the Pomona College Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Jasa Cocke (jasa.cocke@pomona.edu) and Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services.
Alcohol and Drug Enforcement Foundation
Pomona College's policies on alcohol coincide with federal and state laws. Students under 21 may not legally purchase, possess or consume alcohol. Students are not exempt from local, state, and federal law while on the Pomona College campus.
The federal government, through the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, requires that colleges enforce state and local laws concerning drugs and alcohol to remain eligible for federal funds including federal student financial aid. This means that marijuana use and possession are violations of policy.
California has a strict host liability law. If a student sells or serves alcohol, they can be held responsible in a court of law for the conduct of any individual who is served if that person subsequently injures themselves, becomes ill, dies, or injures a third party. This is especially true when the person served is a minor or is already intoxicated.
The City of Claremont prohibits public intoxication, open containers of alcohol in vehicles, and consuming alcohol in public parks. The City also prohibits possession and use of cannabis [marijuana] anywhere.
All Pomona students are accountable for the alcohol and drug policies regardless of whether they live on or off-campus. Students studying abroad may follow the laws of the nation of residence, where applicable.
Alcohol policies
The legal drinking age in the United States and California is 21 years old. Students under 21 may not consume, possess, buy, or distribute alcoholic beverages.
Students 21 years of age and older are permitted to possess and drink alcoholic beverages at Pomona but may not distribute, sell, supply, or serve alcohol to people under 21 years of age.
Operating a motorized vehicle (including golf carts and scooters) on Pomona College, or other Claremont College property while under the influence of alcohol is prohibited.
Alcohol is not an excuse for other policy violations and can, in fact, be a compounding factor in decisions made by student code administrators, Judicial Council or the Student Affairs Committee.
Drinking games are prohibited at Pomona College. Any game that requires drinking alcohol as a component, rule, outcome, or objective is a drinking game. This includes games that look like drinking games, for example "water pong."
Public drunkenness is not permitted.
Students may not drink alcoholic beverages in public areas on campus, except at officially registered parties and social events.
Open containers of alcohol, or cups containing alcoholic drinks, may not be carried around campus or in public spaces in the residence halls.
Private gatherings in residence hall rooms or the common living room areas of student suites that violate the College's Alcohol and Drug Policies, infringe on public space, or become a public nuisance, are not allowed and will be dispersed. Students who host or attend such parties could be processed through conduct.
Hosts are responsible for the behavior of all guests when visiting their rooms and visitors anywhere across The Claremont Colleges. For example, if a Pomona student’s visitor is drunk and disruptive at a 5C event, their host will be held responsible.
Kegs and other common containers of alcohol are prohibited for students on campus. Common containers of alcohol include, but are not limited to kegs, kegerators, pony kegs, punch bowls, water coolers, "handles" of liquor, and other such containers meant to serve a large number of individuals.
Brewing beer, distilling alcohol, or fermenting wine is not permitted on campus.
Alcohol and Social Events Regulation
The College allows student organizations and individual students to register parties and social events that serve alcohol ("registered events") in specified campus locations. The College reserves the right to revoke or alter the specific spaces in which registered events can be held and the frequency with which registration may occur.
The following regulations apply to ALL student-run registered events
Students, individually or through clubs, must register alcohol events through Engage.
Liquor may not be served or consumed at registered events.
Beers, seltzers, ciders, etc. up to 9% are allowed. Wine, champagne, and sparkling wines up to 14% are permissible. Alcohol can be served in individual cans, bottles or cups. Kegs are prohibited.
Alcohol may not be purchased with funds collected as mandatory fees by the College, including all fees turned over to the ASPC by the College for the purpose of supporting student activities.
Alcoholic beverages may not be sold at any campus event.
Alcoholic beverages may not be served at registered student events that are open to the non-7C community.
Events at which alcohol is served may not be registered during reading days or during the final examination period.
Consumption or possession of alcohol during athletic events and inside athletic venues is prohibited.
Individuals are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages to any registered event or from taking alcoholic beverages out of events or social functions.
The number of people attending a registered event who may legally drink will determine the amount of alcoholic beverages available. This formula is based on one drink per hour, with a maximum of three drinks per person.
The following regulations apply to all registered events with alcohol:
Events at which alcohol is served must be registered with and approved by the Office of the Smith Campus Center and Student Programs in Suite 244 of the Smith Campus Center, through Engage. Students must register events at least 72 hours prior. Failure to register in a timely manner will result in a denial of alcohol for an event.
Only students of The Claremont Colleges who present valid College identification cards and their registered guests are permitted to attend registered events. Guest passes may be obtained at the Smith Campus Center Building Manager's window after 5:00 p.m.
Students of the Claremont Colleges must show proof of age to obtain a wristband. Students may provide a 5C student identification card with a birthdate, a passport, or a valid U.S. state ID. Visitors of students, who possess a valid Guest Pass, must show a valid state of national ID (such as a passport) with their Guest Pass, at the point of alcohol service.
No event with alcohol may begin or continue without a scheduled bartender in charge of alcohol distribution. Servers are hired by the Office of the Campus Center and Student Programs after an event is registered. ASPC will cover the cost of servers and wristbands.
Advertising alcohol
Advertising may specify the type of alcohol being served (for example, wine, champagne, sake), but it may not specify specific brands.
Advertising may not specify the quantity of alcohol present.
Advertising may not encourage binge drinking or make reference to drunkenness.
Non-Pomona bartenders must be present at all alcohol registered event to check identification, distribute wristbands, and serve drinks. Bartenders have the right to refuse service to any student they choose.
All registered alcohol events must have a host or hosts who are sober and present for the duration of the event. At least one host must be 21 years of age or older. Hosts contact the Campus Life office through Engage to arrange appropriate numbers of servers and to ensure that the party does not begin or continue without their presence. Hosts are also responsible for ending the event at the agreed upon time andfor ensuring clean-up of the event site.
Water and other hydrating non-alcoholic beverages must be provided. In addition, in a quantity enough for all guests. In addition, food that is high in protein must be accessible at social events throughout the duration of the event.
Unregistered social gatherings will be dispersed and may be sanctioned. Students who host such gatherings are responsible for the behavior of those who attend.
Pomona College Drug Policy
It is a violation of the Pomona College Drug Policy for students to:
Possess, manufacture, sell, provide, distribute or use, or participate in the use of illegal drugs. Prohibited drugs include all illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD and other hallucinogens, designer drugs and prescription drugs (not including personally prescribed drugs) or other illegal drugs.
Have drug paraphernalia in their residence hall rooms, on their person, or in any area under their immediate control.
Violate state, federal or local laws concerning drug use, distribution, sale or manufacture.
Pomona complies with Federal law regarding the use and possession of cannabis; therefore, cannabis use on campus is prohibited even if the student has documentation of medically prescribed cannabis.
Possible Sanctions
Sanctions for Alcohol and Drug Policy Violations
The Pomona College Code of Conduct is an educational process that allows for students in violation of the Student Code to think about their actions, the impact of those actions on the community, and prevention of future code violations. The process outlined below is a framework outlining various violations of the alcohol and drug policies and recommended sanctions. (Policies not covered below will be handled on a case-by-case basis and could be handled by Student Code Administrators, Deans, or the Judicial Council depending on the incident.)
Please note: If you are found or plead responsible for a policy violation that will be kept as a record of your conduct throughout your time at Pomona. This is common in college and university conduct systems throughout the United States. All conduct, except for suspensions and expulsions, are removed from student records three years after graduation starting with students who first enroll at Pomona College in Fall 2026
Possession of beer/wine (under 21); providing beer/ wine to students under 21; misusing prescription drugs (not including distribution or intent to distribute):
First offense – Warning letter and meeting with Student Code Administrator
Second offense – Second warning letter and meeting with Student Code Administrator and AOD counselor
Third offense – Meeting with Dean, meeting with AOD counselor, and AOD education
Fourth offense (or more) – Judicial Council
All student conduct administrators and Deans may include additional educational sanctions (ex. Apology letter, community service)and will be discussed with the respondent during the meeting.
Possession of liquor (under 21); providing liquor to students under 21; hosting an unregistered party OR possessing keg/party ball/common container/multiple cases or bottles; using or possessing marijuana (not including distribution or intent to distribute):
First offense – Warning letter and meeting with Student Code Administrator
Second offense – Warning and meeting with Dean and the AOD counselor
Third offense – Probation for one semester, meeting with Dean, meeting with AOD counselor, AOD education
Fourth offense (or more) – Judicial Council
All student conduct administrators and Deans may include additional educational sanctions (ex. Apology letter, community service) and will be discussed with the respondent during the meeting.
Using false identification (any kind); attending an unregistered party; failure to comply/refusal to cooperate with a reasonable request of a Pomona College official (including but not limited to RAs, RLCs, Campus Safety, StudentCode Administrators)
First offense – Warning letter and meeting with Student Code Administrator
Second offense – Second warning letter and meeting with Student Code Administrator
Third offense – Probation for one semester, meeting with Dean, educational sanction
Fourth offense (or more) – Judicial Council
All student conduct administrators and Deans may include additional educational sanctions (ex. Apology letter, community service) and will be discussed with the respondent during the meeting.
Using or possessing cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, LSD or other hallucinogens, designer drugs or other illegal drugs
First offense - Judicial Council, likely sanctions: probation, scheduled meetings with the Pomona College AOD counselor; parental notification
Second offense - Judicial Council, likely sanctions: suspension from the College, off-campus treatment, additional educational sanctions
Manufacturing, selling, distributing, or intent to distribute any illegal or prescription drug
First offense - Judicial Council, likely sanctions: interim suspension from the College until a hearing is held, suspension from the College, off-campus treatment, additional educational sanctions
Second offense - Judicial Council, likely sanctions: interim suspension until the hearing has occurred, expulsion from the College