The Interfraternity Council's decision that requires fraternities to card party guests at the door can reduce the potential for drinking-related accidents -- if it is enforced.

The new policy can help to decrease the fraternities' liability in alcohol-related incidents, and it can force them to take more responsibility for the actions of students at their parties. But for these results to appear, fraternities need to make sure the policy is implemented at more than just the entrance to their parties.

Fraternity liabilities have been rising steadily the past few years, and the new policy is part of a continuing effort by IFC to combat those trends.

All fraternities at the University now are associated with the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group, which has strict rules about providing alcohol to minors. Efforts to card at the door are a small step toward meeting the FIPG's regulations and an eventual goal of not serving minors.

While the new policy certainly represents a step in the right direction, fraternities will have to ensure that they enforce the policy stringently. As the newly adopted policy now stands, fraternities must card at the door, but the decision whether to card at the bars is left to each fraternity's discretion.

This loophole surely has caused some people to claim the new policy was adopted only for show, with no intent but to deceive the public. To refute that view, some fraternities might want to card again at the bar.

Closing the avenue to non-enforcement would aid the IFC's credibility, create good will and show that the IFC is truly interested in preventing minors from being served. Even if the policy stands as it is, fraternity members should make sure they enforce it across the line.

Restricting underage drinking to prevent damage and accidents cannot help but be a welcome addition to the fraternities' policies.