matthewg-
First, I'm really against having a drinking age at all (I've seen the general attitudes towards alcohol in European countries.. I think having an age creates more problems anyways).
Second, to answer your question:
My fraternity is dry. However, it wasn't until very recently that this was actually a part of chapter by-laws. And our national is still working on a policy.
We don't have a "no drinking in your letters" rule.. we just expect that you are acting appropriately when wearing letters, etc. So, if you are out at a restaurant and have 1 or 2 drinks, and happen to be wearing a shirt w/ letters on it, that's okay. If you are having 1 or 2 drinks every hour, dancing on the table, etc. that is
not okay. Some people would say this is creates a fine line, but my chapter never had any real problems with it. If we ever went to an "absolutely no drinking with letters on rule", I doubt anyone would care whatsoever.
The fraternity funds absolutely do not purchase alcohol. All of our rush and pledging activities are dry. There are a couple social events (like our spring formal) where alcohol may be made availabe (by the hotel/restaurant we're at) to members
of legal age.
Sure, many of our members
do drink. It just isn't a fraternity event.
I think that the reasoning behind this isn't to be hypocritical at all. Most dry organizations are seriously moving that way (at least officially.. who's to say what
individuals do in their own time outside of the house). The reasoning is that in America, fraternities and sororities have a
terrible image of being a bunch of drunks. (Have you seen the film
Animal House? This is what most Americans think of greek life here). The organizations that are dry/ are in the process of going dry are trying to change that image. And in some cases, avoid future legal action that may be taken against them.
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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter
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