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Hey, we at Alpha Tau at Nebraska have a completely substance-free house. However this doesn't mean we don't drink-just that we don't do it where we live.
Our rule for being dry is simple: No alcohol of any type allowed in the chapter house at any time. Outside, on our property isn't in violation of our house code, but is in violation of University policies so it's risky, but does happen-particularly in our parking lot.
If a brother is suspected of having alcohol in the house then the suspicious party must go to a member of the Executive commitee to let them know about it. At that point they must find 2 other execs (for a total of 3) willing to act on the suspicion before they can proceed. They then question the individual, and if he cooperates and admits to having the alcohol in the house, he forfeits it to the execs who pour it down the sink. If he admits to having it then he is not fined for the first offense.
If the execs question him and he doesn't admit to possessing alcohol then the execs are to search the room in question. If they find alcohol then it is poured out and he is fined $100. For the second offense, whether or not he admits to possesing the alcohol it is is a $200 fine. The third offense results in the expulsion of the member from Beta, the removal of his role number and he will not be granted alumni status at any time in the future. He has to move out in 10 days, and his house bill won't be refunded. Also any debts he owes to the house must be paid in full or he will face legal action in order for the house to recoup the money they are owed.
The house went completely dry when this years Junior Pledge class were freshmen. That year there were more incidents than the past two years combined.
At times I'm frustrated by it, b/c there are times when you'd just like to have a beer and chill, but I also see the benefits of it, and they far outweigh the negatives associated with being wet, and the simple pleasure in just having a beer. Our house is the cleanest, best kept, house on campus, something which girls always notice. Our campus is supposed to be dry, and so we only have Campus Security do walk throughs once a semester, while other houses have them as often as once every 2 weeks, sometimes they have periods where the CSO's come by every weekend. Our house was also the only fraternity house that was used for tours during HS senior visit days, b/c it is clean, and last year when it rotated they occasionally would open a bedroom to find people drinking when the tours went through. Plus the lack of booze focuses the emphasis on studies Sunday through Wednesday nights. The only other negative about being dry, other than just wanting to chill out and have a couple beers, is that girls are less likely to come back to our house after a party to just chill, unless they already decided to shack.
However throw in other benefits like lower maitenence costs, lower insurance premiums, nicer furniture, and an environment where people who don't drink feel welcome, and I think that the small social, and personal negatives are kinda pathetic reasons to be wet.
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