From the Harvard College Policy on Alcohol and Other Drugs

Massachusetts law defines “alcoholic beverages” as any item “intended for human consumption as a beverage and containing one half of one per cent or more of alcohol by volume at sixty degrees Fahrenheit.”

The legal drinking age in Massachusetts is 21. Is is a violation of Massachusetts law for anyone under 21 years of age to possess alcohol or to transport or carry it (unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian), and for anyone of legal drinking age to provide alcohol to someone under 21 years of age. It is also against the law in Massachusetts for persons under 21 year of age to purchase or attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages, or to make arrangements to purchase or procure such beverages. The law prohibits willfully misrepresenting one’s age or altering, defacing, or otherwise falsifying identification offered as proof of age, with the intent of purchasing alcoholic beverages. Knowingly making a false statement as to one’s own age or to the age of another to procure sale or delivery of alcoholic beverages to an underaged person, or inducing a person under 21 years of age to make a false statement about his or her age in order to procure a sale or delivery of alcohol to such underage person, also violates the law.

The city ordinances of both Boston and Cambridge prohibit public consumption of alcohol.

Harvard College prohibits any provision of alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21 in private as well as public settings. Hosts of a party or individuals are subject to College disciplinary action if they give or provide alcoholic beverages to underage persons. Hosts are also expected to take reasonable measures to prevent underage guests from obtaining alcoholic beverages at parties.

The College requires that any delivery of alcoholic beverages to the Houses be registered with the House to ensure that it is made to a person of legal age who takes responsibility for its proper and legal use.