Signs of Intoxication Flashcards
6 cards from real Smart Serve Ontario practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Signs of Intoxication flashcards as text
What is the difference between signs and symptoms of intoxication?
Answer: Signs are what the server observes; symptoms are what the patron feels and reports
Signs are observable indicators that the server can see (stumbling, slurred speech), while symptoms are internal experiences reported by the patron (feeling dizzy, nauseous). Servers must rely primarily on signs.
Which of the following motor skill changes is a sign of intoxication?
Answer: Difficulty handling money, spilling drinks, or swaying while standing
Impaired motor skills manifest as difficulty with fine tasks (handling money, picking up drinks), spilling beverages, stumbling, swaying, or difficulty maintaining balance.
How does the rate of alcohol consumption affect intoxication?
Answer: Faster consumption leads to higher BAC because the body cannot metabolize alcohol as quickly as it is being consumed
The body can only metabolize approximately one standard drink per hour. Consuming alcohol faster than this rate causes BAC to rise more quickly, accelerating intoxication.
Which emotional change is commonly associated with intoxication?
Answer: Mood swings, including sudden aggression, excessive sentimentality, or uncharacteristic sadness
Intoxication often leads to emotional instability, including sudden mood swings. A patron may become uncharacteristically aggressive, overly emotional, or show rapid shifts between emotions.
What does it mean when a patron's behaviour changes from being quiet and reserved to loud and boisterous?
Answer: This behavioural shift from baseline may indicate the effects of alcohol and should be monitored
A significant change from a patron's baseline behaviour is one of the most reliable indicators of intoxication. Moving from quiet and reserved to loud and boisterous represents a notable behavioural shift.
Why is it difficult to assess intoxication in patrons who were already drinking before arriving?
Answer: Because the server did not observe their baseline behaviour or track their prior consumption
When patrons arrive having already consumed alcohol, servers cannot establish a true baseline or account for prior consumption. This makes assessment more challenging and requires extra vigilance.