UT's No Drinking Policy

Everyone knows that UT is a dry campus, but not really. Go to any tailgate party on University property on gameday, and you'll witness alcohol being consumed. No one really makes an attempt to hide it, though most are discreet. I'm no saint, I've been around these activities for years.
Police are pretty liberal about not enforcing the no drinking rule and for the most part, I guess, people drink responsibly.
But not everyone. There's always someone out there who has one too many. They usually make idiots of themselves at the games and wind up puking, or being arrested, or both.
It's one thing for authorities to look the other way at tailgaters. But what about official University functions? Should the President or anyone else in the UT administration be hosting a reception on campus where alcohol is served? Wouldn't that send the wrong message to students?
The official policy states that violating the no alcohol policy is "GROUNDS FOR PERMANENT DISMISSAL AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION. " If a student is busted with alcohol, the consequences could be serious.
So should administrators serve alcohol on campus? Maybe not, but they are.
Our cameras witnessed such a reception Saturday at the Tyson Alumni House. The reception, sponsored by the University, was for state lawmakers. Beer and wine was served.
UT spokesman Tom Milligan told 6 News reporter Sonu Wasu, that there are exceptions to the no alcohol policy:
"There are limited spaces where the university does allow alcohol to be served.. Primarily for special events and functions," said Milligan.
Milligan says the other exception to the no alcohol policy is the McClung Museum.
Milligan says it's not possible to check all coolers at tailgates on gameday. The University's goal, he says, is to make the gameday experience a "safe" and "welcoming" one.

And if your gameday experience includes a guilt-free and legal drink while on campus, you better hope you're invited to the President's pre-game reception. Otherwise, you are breaking the law.