Smart Serve Identifying Intoxication & Impairment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a reliable physical sign of intoxication?
- Wearing sunglasses indoors
- Slurred speech, loss of coordination, and glassy/unfocused eyes (Correct answer)
- Ordering expensive drinks
- Talking loudly on a phone
Correct answer: Slurred speech, loss of coordination, and glassy/unfocused eyes
Reliable physical signs include slurred speech, impaired coordination, glassy or bloodshot eyes, difficulty standing or walking, and spilling drinks. Behavioral changes alone aren't sufficient indicators.
Question 2: A patron who has only had two drinks is showing signs of severe intoxication. What might explain this?
- The bartender made the drinks too strong
- They may have consumed alcohol elsewhere, taken medications, be fatigued, or have a low tolerance (Correct answer)
- Two drinks can never cause visible intoxication
- They are faking intoxication for attention
Correct answer: They may have consumed alcohol elsewhere, taken medications, be fatigued, or have a low tolerance
Factors like pre-drinking elsewhere, medication interactions, fatigue, empty stomach, low body weight, or health conditions can cause visible intoxication from relatively few drinks at your venue.
Question 3: What is the TAPS method for monitoring patron intoxication?
- Temperature, Attitude, Posture, Speech
- Talk, Assess, Pace, Stop
- Time, Amount, Proof, Speed (Correct answer)
- Test, Alert, Prevent, Serve
Correct answer: Time, Amount, Proof, Speed
TAPS stands for Time (how long they've been drinking), Amount (how many drinks), Proof (alcohol content/strength of drinks), and Speed (how fast they're drinking). It helps track intoxication risk.
Question 4: At what point should a server begin monitoring a patron more closely?
- After their 5th drink
- From the moment they enter — monitoring should be continuous (Correct answer)
- Only when they show obvious impairment
- Only when other patrons complain
Correct answer: From the moment they enter — monitoring should be continuous
Monitoring should be continuous from the moment a patron begins consuming alcohol. Waiting for obvious signs of impairment means you've likely already over-served them.
Question 5: A patron's behavior changes from quiet to very loud and overly friendly. Is this a sign of intoxication?
- No, they're just having a good time
- Yes — behavioral changes like loss of inhibition and exaggerated behavior indicate possible intoxication (Correct answer)
- Only if they also show physical signs
- Loud behavior is never related to intoxication
Correct answer: Yes — behavioral changes like loss of inhibition and exaggerated behavior indicate possible intoxication
Loss of inhibition leading to personality changes (quiet person becomes loud, reserved person becomes overly friendly) is one of the earliest behavioral signs of alcohol's effect on the brain.
Question 6: A patron is buying rounds for everyone in the bar. Should the server be concerned?
- No — generous customers are good for business
- Yes — buying rounds leads to faster group consumption and the buyer may be masking their own intoxication level (Correct answer)
- Only if the bar is over capacity
- Only if the buyer is using cash instead of credit
Correct answer: Yes — buying rounds leads to faster group consumption and the buyer may be masking their own intoxication level
Round-buying accelerates group drinking pace and can indicate the buyer's lowered inhibitions. The server should monitor all recipients for intoxication, not just the buyer.
Smart Serve Identifying Intoxication & Impairment 2
Which of the following is a reliable physical sign of intoxication?