RSA - Responsible Service of Alcohol Identifying Intoxication Levels Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is considered a primary sign of intoxication related to a person's coordination?
- Becoming loud and boisterous
- Slurring words and rambling
- Fumbling with change and spilling drinks (Correct answer)
- Having bloodshot eyes
Correct answer: Fumbling with change and spilling drinks
Signs of intoxication are often categorized into changes in speech, balance, coordination, and behavior. Fumbling with change, spilling or dropping drinks, and struggling with tasks like opening a door are all classic indicators of impaired coordination due to alcohol consumption.
Question 2: A patron has consumed several drinks quickly. They are speaking loudly, telling offensive jokes, and annoying other customers. According to RSA guidelines, what category of intoxication signs are they most clearly demonstrating?
- Impaired coordination
- Loss of balance
- Changes in speech
- Noticeable change in behavior (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Noticeable change in behavior
While intoxication can affect coordination, balance, and speech, the described actions—being loud, offensive, and annoying others—fall squarely under the category of a noticeable change in behavior. Responsible service requires staff to identify these behavioral shifts as key indicators of intoxication.
Question 3: When assessing if a patron is intoxicated, a server must have reasonable grounds to believe their state is due to the consumption of alcohol. Which of the following is NOT a reliable factor in making this assessment?
- Observing the number of drinks the person has consumed
- Noticing a strong smell of alcohol
- The person's clothing is disheveled (Correct answer)
- The person's speech has become slurred over time
Correct answer: The person's clothing is disheveled
While a disheveled appearance might sometimes accompany intoxication, it is not a direct or reliable indicator on its own. A person's appearance can be untidy for many reasons unrelated to alcohol. Reliable grounds include observing drink consumption, smelling alcohol, and noticing deteriorating speech, balance, or coordination.
Question 4: Two people of different body weights drink the same amount of alcohol at the same rate. Which factor is most likely to cause the person with the lower body weight to become intoxicated faster?
- They are drinking a carbonated beverage
- They have a higher tolerance to alcohol
- Alcohol concentration is distributed through body water, of which they have less (Correct answer)
- They ate a large meal before drinking
Correct answer: Alcohol concentration is distributed through body water, of which they have less
Alcohol is distributed throughout the body's water content. A person with a lower body weight generally has less water in their body, leading to a higher concentration of alcohol in their bloodstream after consuming the same amount as a larger person.
Question 5: A customer at a high-altitude ski resort who is not accustomed to the elevation consumes two standard drinks. What effect might the altitude have on their level of intoxication?
- The altitude will have no effect on their intoxication level.
- The effects of the alcohol may be significantly increased. (Correct answer)
- The altitude will slow down the rate of alcohol absorption.
- The customer will sober up more quickly than at sea level.
Correct answer: The effects of the alcohol may be significantly increased.
Drinking at high altitudes can intensify the effects of alcohol, especially for those not acclimated to the elevation. The impact can be nearly twice as potent, leading to faster and more severe intoxication from the same amount of alcohol.
Question 6: According to the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) principles, what is the legal obligation of a server who identifies a patron as being intoxicated?
- Serve them one last drink before asking them to leave.
- Immediately eject them from the premises.
- Refuse to serve them any more alcohol. (Correct answer)
- Offer them a shot of coffee to sober them up.
Correct answer: Refuse to serve them any more alcohol.
It is a legal offence for a licensee or staff member to sell or supply alcohol to an intoxicated person. The primary and mandatory action is to refuse further service of alcohol. While offering water or ensuring they have a safe way home are good practices, the legal duty is to stop serving them alcohol.
Which of the following is considered a primary sign of intoxication related to a person's coordination?