RSA Professional Standards & Competencies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a visibly intoxicated customer becomes verbally aggressive after being refused service, the best first response is to:
- Call the police immediately
- Speak calmly and offer water or food
- Ask a manager or colleague for backup support (Correct answer)
- Threaten to involve law enforcement
Correct answer: Ask a manager or colleague for backup support
Involving a manager or colleague provides support, reduces confrontation, and helps de-escalate the situation safely.
Question 2: A server's legal duty of care under dram shop liability means:
- Servers are only liable if the customer drives drunk
- Establishments can be held liable for harm caused by patrons they over-served (Correct answer)
- Liability ends when the customer leaves the premises
- Only the establishment owner faces legal consequences, not the server
Correct answer: Establishments can be held liable for harm caused by patrons they over-served
Dram shop laws allow third parties harmed by an intoxicated person to sue the establishment that over-served them.
Question 3: Which practice best demonstrates professionalism when checking IDs at a busy bar?
- Check IDs only for customers who look young
- Check every patron's ID consistently regardless of appearance (Correct answer)
- Skip ID checks during peak hours to maintain service speed
- Rely on regulars' known ages to save time
Correct answer: Check every patron's ID consistently regardless of appearance
Consistent ID checks protect the establishment legally and prevent age discrimination claims.
Question 4: A responsible server notices a patron has had three drinks in 30 minutes and is becoming louder. The MOST appropriate action is to:
- Wait until the customer requests another drink before assessing
- Proactively slow service by spacing out drink delivery (Correct answer)
- Immediately cut off the customer and ask them to leave
- Ask other patrons if they think the customer is intoxicated
Correct answer: Proactively slow service by spacing out drink delivery
Proactively slowing service is an intervention technique that manages intoxication before it becomes a serious problem.
Question 5: Under RSA standards, which scenario most clearly requires refusing service?
- A customer orders their second drink of the night
- A customer slurs speech and struggles to maintain balance (Correct answer)
- A customer is celebrating loudly with friends
- A customer orders a shot alongside a beer
Correct answer: A customer slurs speech and struggles to maintain balance
Slurred speech and balance problems are clear signs of visible intoxication requiring immediate refusal of service.
Question 6: A colleague asks you to serve a customer who was already refused service. The professional response is to:
- Serve them since you weren't the one who refused
- Confirm with the colleague why the customer was refused before deciding
- Refuse service and communicate with your team about the situation (Correct answer)
- Let the manager decide without sharing the prior refusal
Correct answer: Refuse service and communicate with your team about the situation
Team communication ensures refusals are consistent and prevents customers from bypassing responsible service controls.
Question 7: Which statement about server liability is MOST accurate?
- Servers are never personally liable — only the establishment is
- Personal liability for servers depends on state dram shop laws (Correct answer)
- Servers are always personally liable in all 50 states
- Server liability only applies if they are the business owner
Correct answer: Personal liability for servers depends on state dram shop laws
Whether servers face personal liability under dram shop laws varies by state, making knowledge of local laws essential.
RSA Professional Standards & Competencies 2
When a visibly intoxicated customer becomes verbally aggressive after being refused service, the best first response is to: