Signs of Intoxication Flashcards

What is the significance of a customer needing to use walls, furniture, or other people for support?

Answer: Needing support to maintain balance is a strong indicator of motor impairment due to intoxication

While there can be other explanations, using objects or people for support to maintain balance is one of the strongest physical indicators of intoxication and should be taken seriously.

How does intoxication affect a person's ability to handle money?

Answer: They may overpay, underpay, leave excessive tips, fumble with coins, or have difficulty counting bills

Intoxication impairs both fine motor skills (handling coins and bills) and cognitive function (calculating amounts), leading to difficulty with payments, incorrect change, and sometimes overly generous tipping.

What should a server look for when a customer returns from the washroom?

Answer: Changes in coordination, balance, or demeanour that might indicate the full effects of alcohol are setting in

The walk to and from the washroom provides an opportunity to observe a customer's balance and coordination. Standing up can also accelerate the onset of intoxication symptoms that were less apparent while seated.

What is 'alcohol-related fatigue' and how is it a sign of intoxication?

Answer: Drowsiness, heavy eyelids, and difficulty staying awake caused by alcohol's sedative effects on the central nervous system

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can cause drowsiness, heavy eyelids, yawning, and difficulty staying awake. This is a sign of significant intoxication and potential danger.

Why is it dangerous to rely on a single sign to determine if someone is intoxicated?

Answer: A single sign may have other explanations; multiple signs across different categories provide a more reliable assessment

Individual signs can have alternative explanations — someone might slur due to a speech impediment or sway due to a medical condition. Looking for multiple signs across physical, behavioural, and cognitive categories provides a more reliable assessment.

At what stage of intoxication does a person become a medical emergency?

Answer: When they show signs of confusion, stupor, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing, or vomiting while semi-conscious

Severe intoxication becomes a medical emergency when a person shows confusion, stupor, loss of consciousness, dangerously slow breathing, or vomiting while semi-conscious, as these signs can indicate alcohol poisoning.