ProServe Responsible Service Practices 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the best way to handle a customer who insists on buying drinks for an intoxicated friend?
- Allow it since the buyer is not intoxicated
- Politely decline and explain that you cannot serve alcohol to someone who is intoxicated, regardless of who is paying (Correct answer)
- Serve weaker drinks instead
- Let the manager decide later
Correct answer: Politely decline and explain that you cannot serve alcohol to someone who is intoxicated, regardless of who is paying
It is illegal to serve alcohol to an intoxicated person regardless of who is purchasing the drink. The server should politely explain the legal obligation and suggest non-alcoholic alternatives.
Question 2: What is 'stacking' and why is it a concern in responsible service?
- Stacking chairs at closing time
- When a customer has multiple unfinished drinks in front of them, indicating rapid ordering that may lead to overconsumption (Correct answer)
- Stacking inventory in the storage room
- When servers stack their trays
Correct answer: When a customer has multiple unfinished drinks in front of them, indicating rapid ordering that may lead to overconsumption
Stacking occurs when a customer accumulates multiple unfinished drinks. This is a red flag because it can indicate rapid consumption or the intent to consume large quantities quickly.
Question 3: What factor does NOT directly affect how quickly a person becomes intoxicated?
- Body weight
- The colour of the beverage (Correct answer)
- Whether they have eaten recently
- Their gender
Correct answer: The colour of the beverage
The colour of a beverage does not affect intoxication rate. Key factors include body weight, gender, food consumption, rate of drinking, tolerance, medications, and overall health.
Question 4: What should a server do when they notice a patron secretly pouring alcohol from a flask into their drink?
- Ignore it as it is not their business
- Address the situation immediately as outside alcohol is prohibited on licensed premises (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if they become intoxicated
- Confiscate the flask and keep it
Correct answer: Address the situation immediately as outside alcohol is prohibited on licensed premises
Bringing outside alcohol into a licensed premises is illegal. The server should address this immediately by informing the patron it is not permitted and involving management if necessary.
Question 5: What is the recommended way to calculate how long it takes for the body to process one standard drink?
- 15 minutes
- Approximately one hour (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes
- It depends on how much water you drink
Correct answer: Approximately one hour
The human body processes approximately one standard drink per hour. This rate is relatively constant regardless of the person's size, and cannot be significantly sped up by drinking water or coffee.
Question 6: Why is it important for servers to document incidents involving intoxicated patrons?
- For entertainment purposes
- Documentation provides evidence of due diligence and helps protect the establishment from liability (Correct answer)
- It is not important
- Only to gossip about later
Correct answer: Documentation provides evidence of due diligence and helps protect the establishment from liability
Documenting incidents creates a record that demonstrates the establishment exercised due diligence, which can be critical if there are later legal proceedings or AGLC investigations.
ProServe Responsible Service Practices 4
What is the best way to handle a customer who insists on buying drinks for an intoxicated friend?