Smart Serve Transportation Safety and Getting Patrons Home Safely 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: After refusing service to an intoxicated patron and helping arrange transportation, what administrative step should a server take?
- Forget about the incident once the patron safely leaves
- Document the incident thoroughly in an incident report (Correct answer)
- Share the details of the incident with other customers
- Contact the patron the following day to check on them
Correct answer: Document the incident thoroughly in an incident report
Completing an incident report creates a written record that protects the server and establishment legally and helps identify any patterns requiring policy changes.
Question 2: What key information should be included in an incident report involving an impaired driving concern?
- Only the patron's name and their drink order for the evening
- Date, time, description of events, witness names, and actions taken (Correct answer)
- The patron's home address and vehicle license plate number
- Only the name of the transportation company that was called
Correct answer: Date, time, description of events, witness names, and actions taken
A complete incident report captures all relevant facts — date, time, what occurred, who witnessed it, and what steps were taken — which is essential for legal protection.
Question 3: If an intoxicated patron walks out of the establishment before transportation can be arranged, what should the server do?
- Take no action since the patron is no longer the establishment's responsibility
- Chase the patron out onto the street to bring them back inside
- Notify management immediately and document the situation in an incident report (Correct answer)
- Call the patron's family using personal contact information from their ID
Correct answer: Notify management immediately and document the situation in an incident report
Notifying management and documenting the incident creates a record demonstrating the server's attempt to fulfill their duty of care, which is important for legal protection.
Question 4: What is management's role when a server is dealing with a patron who plans to drive while impaired?
- Management has no role once a patron decides to leave the premises
- Management supports the server and may contact police if the patron poses an immediate risk (Correct answer)
- Management should always call police for every patron who has consumed alcohol
- Management is only responsible for financial and administrative matters
Correct answer: Management supports the server and may contact police if the patron poses an immediate risk
Management backs up front-line servers, makes key judgment calls, and has authority to escalate to police when a patron's impaired driving poses an imminent danger.
Question 5: How long should transportation safety incident reports generally be kept on file?
- 24 hours, as incidents are typically resolved quickly
- One week, which is sufficient for most follow-up
- At least one year, or as required by establishment policy and applicable regulations (Correct answer)
- Only until the patron returns or contacts the establishment
Correct answer: At least one year, or as required by establishment policy and applicable regulations
Legal claims or investigations related to an incident can arise well after the event, so records should be retained for at least a year to protect the establishment.
Question 6: Which staff members should receive training on transportation safety procedures?
- Only managers and supervisors who have authority over service decisions
- Only bartenders, since they control what alcohol is served
- All patron-facing staff including servers, bartenders, hosts, and security personnel (Correct answer)
- Only security personnel stationed at the entrance and exit
Correct answer: All patron-facing staff including servers, bartenders, hosts, and security personnel
Any patron-facing staff member may be the first to notice an impaired patron planning to drive, so all should be trained to respond appropriately.
Question 7: What is one benefit of displaying a visible transportation safety policy for patrons to see in an establishment?
- It legally transfers all responsibility for impaired driving to the patron
- It discourages patrons from visiting the establishment at all
- It communicates the establishment's commitment to safety and sets clear expectations (Correct answer)
- It is simply a regulatory requirement with no practical impact on behavior
Correct answer: It communicates the establishment's commitment to safety and sets clear expectations
A visible policy signals the establishment's dedication to responsible service, which can influence patron behavior and demonstrate due diligence in liability situations.
Smart Serve Transportation Safety and Getting Patrons Home Safely 2
After refusing service to an intoxicated patron and helping arrange transportation, what administrative step should a server take?