Smart Serve Identifying Intoxication & Impairment — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an early behavioural sign that a customer may be becoming intoxicated?
- Speaking more slowly than usual
- Becoming louder, more talkative, or overly friendly (Correct answer)
- Sitting very still and quietly
- Ordering water instead of alcohol
Correct answer: Becoming louder, more talkative, or overly friendly
Early signs of intoxication often include increased talkativeness, louder speech, and lowered inhibitions. These are caused by alcohol's initial depressant effect on the frontal lobe.
Question 2: A patron is slurring their speech, has glassy eyes, and is unsteady when standing. These are signs of:
- Mild fatigue
- Moderate to severe intoxication requiring refusal of further service (Correct answer)
- A medical condition unrelated to alcohol
- Normal behaviour after a long day of work
Correct answer: Moderate to severe intoxication requiring refusal of further service
Slurred speech, glassy or bloodshot eyes, and loss of coordination are clear signs of moderate to severe intoxication. At this point, the server is legally obligated to stop serving alcohol.
Question 3: Why is it challenging to judge a person's impairment level based on appearance alone?
- Impairment is always clearly visible
- Tolerance levels vary, so a person may appear sober but have a high BAC (Correct answer)
- Alcohol affects only motor skills, not appearance
- People under 19 never show signs of intoxication
Correct answer: Tolerance levels vary, so a person may appear sober but have a high BAC
Regular drinkers develop a tolerance and may appear more sober than their BAC indicates. Servers must consider the total number of drinks consumed, not just current behaviour.
Question 4: Which of the following physical signs suggests a customer may be intoxicated?
- Steady gait and clear speech
- Flushed face, glassy eyes, and slow reaction time (Correct answer)
- Increased alertness and quick reflexes
- Eating a full meal at the table
Correct answer: Flushed face, glassy eyes, and slow reaction time
A flushed face, glassy or unfocused eyes, and slowed reaction times are physical indicators of alcohol's physiological effects, signalling that the person has consumed a significant amount of alcohol.
Question 5: What should a server do if they are unsure whether a patron is impaired?
- Continue serving and observe for another hour
- Serve a double to check the reaction
- Slow down service, offer food or water, and observe behaviour closely (Correct answer)
- Ask other patrons if they think the person is drunk
Correct answer: Slow down service, offer food or water, and observe behaviour closely
When uncertain, the responsible action is to slow or pause service, offer non-alcoholic alternatives, and carefully monitor the patron's behaviour before deciding to continue or refuse service.
Question 6: A customer mentions they have not eaten all day and has already had three drinks in an hour. What should a server consider?
- Offering a complimentary fourth drink
- Recognising they may be at elevated risk of rapid intoxication and slowing service (Correct answer)
- This situation has no relevance to responsible service
- Checking their ID again before serving more
Correct answer: Recognising they may be at elevated risk of rapid intoxication and slowing service
Drinking on an empty stomach significantly accelerates alcohol absorption. Three drinks in an hour on an empty stomach may produce a substantially elevated BAC, requiring the server to assess and likely slow or stop service.
Smart Serve Identifying Intoxication & Impairment
Which of the following is an early behavioural sign that a customer may be becoming intoxicated?