ABST Responsible Alcohol Service & Liability — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'dram shop liability' in the context of alcohol service?
- Legal liability imposed on establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons or minors who then cause harm (Correct answer)
- A type of insurance for bartenders
- A health code violation for dirty glassware
- A tax on alcohol sales
Correct answer: Legal liability imposed on establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated persons or minors who then cause harm
Dram shop laws hold alcohol-serving establishments legally responsible for injuries or damages caused by intoxicated patrons they over-served, creating financial and legal incentives for responsible service.
Question 2: What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving in most US states?
- 0.08% (Correct answer)
- 0.10%
- 0.05%
- 0.12%
Correct answer: 0.08%
The legal BAC limit for drivers 21 and older is 0.08% in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, established as the federal standard since 2000.
Question 3: Which of the following is a visible sign of intoxication that servers should watch for?
- Slurred speech, impaired coordination, and bloodshot eyes (Correct answer)
- Ordering food with their drinks
- Arriving at the establishment by taxi
- Drinking water between alcoholic beverages
Correct answer: Slurred speech, impaired coordination, and bloodshot eyes
Physical signs of intoxication include slurred speech, loss of coordination, bloodshot or glassy eyes, loud or aggressive behavior, and difficulty focusing, all indicating the person should not be served more alcohol.
Question 4: What should a server do if a patron appears to be under 21 and orders an alcoholic beverage?
- Request a valid government-issued photo ID before serving (Correct answer)
- Serve the drink if the patron appears close to 21
- Ask the patron's companions to verify their age
- Serve the drink but make it weaker than normal
Correct answer: Request a valid government-issued photo ID before serving
Servers must check valid government-issued photo identification (driver's license, passport, military ID) for anyone who reasonably appears to be under the legal drinking age before serving alcohol.
Question 5: What is the 'one drink per hour' guideline based on?
- The average rate at which the human body metabolizes one standard drink of alcohol (Correct answer)
- The maximum number of drinks allowed by law per hour
- A recommended serving pace set by the FDA
- The time it takes for alcohol to reach the brain
Correct answer: The average rate at which the human body metabolizes one standard drink of alcohol
The human liver metabolizes approximately one standard drink per hour. This guideline helps servers and patrons understand that consuming more than one drink per hour leads to increasing intoxication.
Question 6: What constitutes a 'standard drink' in the United States?
- 12 oz of beer (5% ABV), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (40% ABV) (Correct answer)
- Any drink served in a standard glass
- 8 oz of any alcoholic beverage
- One bottle of any alcohol regardless of size
Correct answer: 12 oz of beer (5% ABV), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (40% ABV)
A US standard drink contains approximately 14 grams (0.6 oz) of pure alcohol, equivalent to 12 oz of regular beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of 80-proof spirits.
ABST Responsible Alcohol Service & Liability
What is 'dram shop liability' in the context of alcohol service?