TAM Establishment Policies & Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Maryland law, what must an establishment do before implementing a new alcohol service policy?
- Post it on social media
- Train all staff on the policy (Correct answer)
- Submit it to the state liquor board for approval
- Print it in the local newspaper
Correct answer: Train all staff on the policy
All staff must be trained on new alcohol service policies before those policies are put into effect.
Question 2: A written house policy on alcohol service is best described as:
- A suggestion employees may follow at their discretion
- A set of enforceable standards that protect the establishment legally (Correct answer)
- A document required only for bars, not restaurants
- A temporary guideline updated nightly
Correct answer: A set of enforceable standards that protect the establishment legally
A written house policy creates enforceable standards and provides legal protection by demonstrating responsible service practices.
Question 3: Which scenario best illustrates a 'last call' policy working correctly?
- Servers continue selling drinks until the customer leaves
- A manager announces last call 30 minutes before closing so staff can stop new drink orders (Correct answer)
- Bartenders stop service only when patrons ask for the check
- Last call is declared only when the establishment runs low on alcohol
Correct answer: A manager announces last call 30 minutes before closing so staff can stop new drink orders
Announcing last call 30 minutes before closing gives staff time to complete service and prevents customers from ordering alcohol right before closing.
Question 4: An establishment's 'drink specials' policy should include which of the following restrictions?
- Unlimited drinks for a flat fee must be promoted heavily
- Rapid-consumption promotions like 'chug contests' are acceptable if monitored
- Drink specials must not encourage excessive or rapid consumption (Correct answer)
- Specials should only be offered during happy hour to limit exposure
Correct answer: Drink specials must not encourage excessive or rapid consumption
Maryland TAM standards prohibit promotions that encourage excessive or rapid alcohol consumption as they increase intoxication risk.
Question 5: Why should an establishment maintain a log of refusals of alcohol service?
- To identify which customers to ban permanently
- To provide documentation of responsible service decisions if legally challenged (Correct answer)
- To report to the Maryland Health Department monthly
- To calculate how much revenue was lost from refusals
Correct answer: To provide documentation of responsible service decisions if legally challenged
A refusal log serves as legal documentation that staff followed responsible service policies when denying alcohol to customers.
Question 6: An establishment policy requiring servers to check ID for customers who appear under age _____ is consistent with Maryland TAM best practices.
- 18
- 21
- 25
- 30 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 30
TAM best practices recommend checking ID for anyone who appears under 30 years old to reduce the risk of serving minors.
Question 7: Which action violates a proper alcohol service policy when a guest appears intoxicated?
- Offering water and food to slow absorption
- Notifying a manager before cutting the guest off
- Allowing the guest to 'sober up' with one more drink (Correct answer)
- Calling a cab or ride service for the guest
Correct answer: Allowing the guest to 'sober up' with one more drink
Offering 'one more drink' to an intoxicated person violates responsible service policy and increases liability for the establishment.
TAM Establishment Policies & Procedures 2
Under Maryland law, what must an establishment do before implementing a new alcohol service policy?