<p>Hi,</p>
<p>As a Harvard hopeful, I have spent too much time in HS working over the weekends and gone to too few parties. One of the things I'm looking for at school next year is an active social life that compliments an active and stimulating intellectual experience.</p>
<p>I have recently seen a number of articles in The Crimson about alcohol policy reform at H. Can any current students comment on how this is affecting the party scene? What are Beverage Authorization Teams? Can Freshman still get into upperclass parties? What is the alcohol policy at these so called Stein Clubs or the Hog's Head? Are there new, severe punishments if someone under 21 is caught drinking? </p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Polarbear27</p>
<p>In a word: no.</p>
<p>The new alcohol policy hasn't really affected us in any way more than the fact that the party-grants have been changed so they can't pay for alcohol (so now you chalk it up as "DJ" expenses or something similarly ridiculous). Most stein clubs never served hard liquor, and they still don't card. The only places with BATs are the really big parties (80s dance, 90s dance, etc) and house formals (and most HoCos sponsor 'pregames' without BATs). Queen's Head pub does card hard, but no one really goes there to drink heavily anyway.</p>
<p>As far as freshman getting into upperclass parties, it's the same as it's always been. Easier for girls than guys, but still pretty open.</p>
<p>On one hand, I'm really glad I'm 21 now, and a legal drinker. Things are definitely moving in the wrong direction, when it comes to making Harvard's social scene both fun and safe.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I'm sure it's just as easy for freshman to get alcohol now, as it was two years ago when I was a frosh. If anything, I think I (as well as most of my friends) drank more then than we do now. If there's a will... there's a way.</p>