TIPS Alcohol Physiology & Blood Alcohol Content 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At a BAC of 0.08%, which cognitive function is MOST likely to be impaired?
- Basic vision
- Judgment and self-control (Correct answer)
- Ability to speak
- Ability to walk
Correct answer: Judgment and self-control
At 0.08% BAC, judgment, reasoning, and self-control are significantly impaired, which is why this is the legal driving limit in most U.S. states.
Question 2: Which of the following individuals would generally reach a higher BAC after consuming the same amount of alcohol?
- A 200 lb man
- A 120 lb woman (Correct answer)
- A 180 lb man who has eaten a full meal
- A 150 lb man who exercises regularly
Correct answer: A 120 lb woman
A lighter person with less body water and typically less alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme will reach a higher BAC from the same amount of alcohol.
Question 3: Why do women generally reach higher BAC levels than men of the same weight after consuming equal amounts of alcohol?
- Women metabolize alcohol faster, causing a rebound effect
- Women have less body water and lower levels of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in the stomach (Correct answer)
- Women's livers are less efficient at processing glucose
- Women absorb alcohol more slowly, leading to prolonged exposure
Correct answer: Women have less body water and lower levels of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in the stomach
Women typically have a higher body fat percentage (less water volume to dilute alcohol) and lower gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity, resulting in higher BAC.
Question 4: What is the approximate BAC level at which a person is considered legally impaired for driving in most U.S. states?
- 0.04%
- 0.06%
- 0.08% (Correct answer)
- 0.10%
Correct answer: 0.08%
0.08% BAC is the legal per se limit for driving under the influence (DUI) in all 50 U.S. states for adults 21 and over.
Question 5: A customer claims they feel fine and want another drink even though they appear visibly intoxicated. What does this indicate about their perception of their own BAC?
- They are accurately self-assessing because they have high alcohol tolerance
- Tolerance reduces impairment so their self-assessment is likely correct
- Alcohol impairs the judgment needed for accurate self-assessment of intoxication (Correct answer)
- They are being deceptive and should be trusted if they insist
Correct answer: Alcohol impairs the judgment needed for accurate self-assessment of intoxication
Alcohol impairs the very cognitive functions needed for self-assessment, so intoxicated individuals commonly underestimate their level of impairment.
Question 6: Which action will effectively lower a person's BAC?
- Drinking coffee
- Eating food after drinking
- Exercising vigorously
- Waiting for the liver to metabolize the alcohol (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Waiting for the liver to metabolize the alcohol
Only time allows the liver to metabolize alcohol and lower BAC; coffee, food, exercise, and other remedies do not speed up this process.
Question 7: At approximately what BAC level does the risk of respiratory depression and potentially fatal alcohol poisoning become significant?
- 0.10%
- 0.20%
- 0.30%
- 0.40% and above (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 0.40% and above
BAC levels of 0.40% and above can suppress the central nervous system to the point of respiratory failure and death.
TIPS Alcohol Physiology & Blood Alcohol Content 2
At a BAC of 0.08%, which cognitive function is MOST likely to be impaired?