SMARTSERVE Alcohol Effects on the Body 2

Question 1

What is a 'blackout' in the context of alcohol consumption?

Accepted Answer

A period of amnesia during which a person was awake but cannot form new memories due to high BAC

Answer

A blackout is an alcohol-induced amnesia where a person is conscious and active but the hippocampus cannot form new long-term memories due to a high BAC.

Question 2

What is alcohol poisoning and why is it a medical emergency?

Accepted Answer

A life-threatening condition where dangerously high BAC suppresses vital functions like breathing and heart rate

Answer

Alcohol poisoning occurs when an extremely high BAC suppresses the central nervous system to the point of threatening breathing and heart function, requiring immediate emergency medical care.

Question 3

Which of the following groups may be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol?

Accepted Answer

People with lower body weight and those who eat less

Answer

People with lower body weight have less body water to dilute alcohol, and those who eat less have faster gastric emptying, both of which lead to higher BAC from the same amount of alcohol.

Question 4

What effect does alcohol have on coordination and why does this matter to servers?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol impairs coordination by disrupting the cerebellum, which is a visible sign of intoxication servers can observe

Answer

Alcohol disrupts the cerebellum — the brain region controlling balance and motor coordination — causing visible stumbling, swaying, or difficulty with fine movements that servers can identify.

Question 5

Why do women generally reach a higher BAC than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Women typically have lower body water content and less alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in the stomach

Answer

Women generally have proportionally less body water and lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (the enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach), leading to higher BAC from the same consumption.

SMARTSERVE - Smart Serve Ontario Practice Test

SMARTSERVE - Smart Serve Ontario Practice Test

SMARTSERVE Alcohol Effects on the Body 2