Alcohol policy
We take our responsibilities regarding alcohol use and abuse extremely seriously and have reviewed our alcohol policy after the 2009 season. The key principles are summarised below. The full report is detailed in a manual given to all leaders when they sign up and it is their responsibilities to ensure they have read and adhere to these conditions.- World Challenge actively discourages the consumption of alcohol whilst on expedition, and by prior agreement with schools it is explicitly forbidden in the case of US, Australian, Middle East and European Schools on pain of accompanying school staff potentially losing their jobs.
- In the case of UK schools, where it is the officially sanctioned policy of the school, confirmed in writing by the School Leader acting as the Head’s formal representative to the Expedition Leader and supported by prior parental consent, then limited consumption of alcohol on specific occasions mutually agreed by the Leadership Team under adult supervision is permissible.
- Local age limits for purchase and consumption of alcohol must be adhered to in all cases – these are found in Destination Specific Risk Assessments.
- Whilst all members of the Leadership Team have responsibility for implementing the alcohol policy, the Expedition Leader remains explicitly accountable for the safety of the group, and is to ensure that no uncontrolled, unauthorised or unsupervised consumption of alcohol takes place.
- Uncontrolled or unauthorised drinking may result in invalidation of either accident or liability insurance cover, and in extreme cases in Gross Negligence claims against adults who fail to exercise their supervisory responsibilities in an appropriately professional manner.
- Where any convincing and substantiated allegations of uncontrolled drinking taking place on expedition are made the Expedition Leader concerned will not be re-engaged by World Challenge.
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