Cornell rape allegations lead to renewed scrutiny of laws on intoxication and consent

Drinking and consent - Cornell rape allegations expose 'loopholes' in laws

A lawsuit filed last month by a woman against Cornell University fraternity members has intensified discussion about how US states define sexual consent in cases involving alcohol and drug consumption. The woman alleged she was drugged with ketamine and provided alcohol before being assaulted in 2024, and argued she could not consent due to her intoxication. New York’s current legal framework does not automatically consider individuals unable to…

How New York Failed to Change Consent Laws as Cornell Case Raises Scrutiny

As scrutiny grows over the Cornell case, experts and lawmakers are revisiting New York's failure to pass legislation on intoxication and consent.

How drunk is too drunk? Cornell rape allegations expose 'loopholes' in consent laws

The BBC speaks to experts about current US state sexual assault laws and why some believe changing them will help victims.

Why the 'voluntary intoxication loophole' makes rape hard to prosecute

A gap in the law in New York and nearly two dozen other states makes it hard to prosecute rape if the victim has been drinking or taking drugs beforehand.

Cornell rape allegations lead to renewed scrutiny of laws on intoxication and consent

The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Heather Ainsworth) By Claudia Lauer and David A. Lieb ASSOCIATED PRESS A woman’s account of being sexually assaulted at a Cornell University fraternity house has advocates and lawmakers renewing their criticism of a New York law that makes it...