Drug & Alcohol Interaction Awareness Flashcards

Benzodiazepines (such as Valium or Xanax) combined with alcohol are dangerous primarily because:

Answer: Both are CNS depressants that together can suppress breathing to life-threatening levels

Benzodiazepines and alcohol are both CNS depressants; their combined effect can severely suppress the central nervous system, including respiratory function.

A patron exhibits signs of stimulant use (rapid speech, hyperactivity) combined with odor of alcohol. As a TAM server, your PRIMARY concern should be:

Answer: Refusing further alcohol service due to visible altered state

Any visibly altered state—regardless of its cause—requires refusal of further alcohol service under TAM-certified server responsibilities.

Which statement about alcohol and energy drinks (containing caffeine) is accurate for TAM-certified servers to understand?

Answer: Energy drinks mask fatigue, causing drinkers to consume more alcohol than they realize

Caffeine masks alcohol-induced tiredness, which can lead patrons to drink more than intended while their BAC continues to rise.

If a patron tells you they are taking metformin (a diabetes medication) and asks if they can drink, what is the key concern a TAM-aware server should understand?

Answer: Alcohol combined with metformin can cause dangerously low blood sugar and lactic acidosis

Alcohol combined with metformin can lower blood sugar severely and increase the risk of lactic acidosis, both of which are medical emergencies.

When evaluating whether to serve a patron who appears impaired, which factor is MOST important under Maryland TAM standards?

Answer: The patron's observable behavior and physical signs of impairment

Maryland TAM standards focus on observable signs of impairment—slurred speech, unsteady gait, glassy eyes—as the primary basis for service decisions.

A patron on antidepressants (SSRIs) appears more intoxicated than their alcohol consumption should cause. This is MOST likely because:

Answer: SSRIs can interact with alcohol to amplify impairment and lower tolerance

SSRIs can interact with alcohol to lower a person's alcohol tolerance and amplify the sedative effects, causing greater impairment than expected.

Under Maryland law, an alcohol server who knowingly serves an already-intoxicated person (regardless of cause) may face:

Answer: Personal civil liability and potential criminal charges under dram shop laws

Maryland dram shop laws allow servers and establishments to face civil liability and criminal charges for serving visibly intoxicated patrons.