AlphaChiGirl,
Thanks for your post. You have put your finger on probably the main reason for the alcohol free housing movement. It's important to realize that no National that I am aware of is saying, "Don't drink." Many have programs like our "Delts Talk About Alcohol" which stress the effects of alcohol and urge MODERATION in drinking.
The fact is, however, that many Nationals cannot get insurance. And they can't operate without it. On another thread I explained that a number of fraternal organizations (including ours) have pooled financial resources and are underwriting the group because no insurance company would issue a liability policy to a Greek organization. In the fraternity world, over 90% of liability insurance claims are alcohol related. That's the real reason we talk about "dry housing" third party vendors. That way the bar or restaurant or hotel or whatever assumes the liability and their employees have the responsibility to keep things under control. And, truthfully, I believe that an employee of that vendor is more likely to take that initiative than a "brother" or "sister."
A big problem is that this group of fraternities doesn't have nearly as much money as an insurance company, so a very few big lawsuits will bankrupt the group, and potentially ALL of the GLO's who are part of it.
This really could spell the end of those organizations. Literally.
I read just this week that the Phi Kappa Sigma chapter at Ohio University has closed because its' National had to raise insurance costs to over $300 per man. The chapter simply couldn't afford to stay open. The reason for the cost -- a lawsuit filed by the partents of a Texas student who died of alcohol poisoning. According to the AP, the settlement was $2 million.
How many settlements like that could your National handle without liability insurance?
Think about it.
Fraternally,
DeltAlum
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