Part I, Section B: Serving Alcohol

Question 1

How is alcohol absorbed into the body?

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Answer 1

Through the tissues of the mouth, throat, stomach and small intestine

Question 2

What are the 5 factors that affect the absorption of alcohol into the body?

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Answer 2

2. Concentration of the alcohol
3. Food
4. Carbonation
5. Temperature of the beverage
6. Hydration

Question 3

What are the 4 classic symptoms of intoxication?

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Answer 3

1. Relaxed inhibitions
2. Impaired judgment
3. Slowed reaction time
4. Loss of coordination

Question 4

What are some chronic health issues caused by alcohol consumption?

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Answer 4

Damage to the liver, heart and brain

Question 5

What does BAC stand for?

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Answer 5

Blood alcohol concentration

Question 6

What is the legal BAC limit for driving?

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Answer 6

0.08 in every state but Michigan where it is 0.10

Question 7

What is alcohol tolerance?

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Answer 7

Tolerance means that after continued drinking, consumption of a constant amount of alcohol produces a lesser effect or increasing amounts of alcohol are necessary to produce the same effect

Question 8

What are the 2 types of alcohol tolerance?

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Answer 8

1. Metabolic tolerance - A tolerance that results from a more rapid elimination of alcohol from the body is called metabolic tolerance. It is associated with a specific group of liver enzymes that metabolize alcohol and that are activated after chronic drinking. Enzyme activation increases alcohol degradation and reduces the time during which alcohol is active in the body, thereby reducing the duration of alcohol’s intoxicating effects.
2. Functional tolerance - A person’s brain functions adapt to compensate for the disruption caused by alcohol in both their behavior and their bodily functions.

Question 9

What are the 4 ways that the body gets rid of alcohol?

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Answer 9

1. Breath
2. Sweat
3. Urine
4. Mother’s Milk

Question 10

Why is it dangerous to consume alcohol while taking medications?

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Answer 10

The liver processes alcohol and some types of medication. One substance could be processed at the neglect of the other, or the liver could be overworked

Question 11

Why is it important to be a responsible beverage server?

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Answer 11

To protect our customers, ourselves, and the world at large from injury, death, prosecution, and liability.

BES original answer:
1. To ensure everyone’s health and safety
2. We ourselves, or our employer, could be held liable for the actions of a drunk customer

Question 12

What is the legal drinking age?

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Answer 12

21 in most states. Some states have exceptions but the legal age to buy alcohol is almost always 21.

Question 13

Are you required by law to check a customer’s ID to
detect underage customers?

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Answer 13

Varies by state, and no in some cases. All states mandate that you can’t sell to underage customers.

Checking ID will help protect you and your
employer against liability for underage drinking.

Question 14

What are 6 key steps for checking a customer’s ID?

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Answer 14

1. Picture … Does the face and build match the person you’re looking at?
2. Birthdate - Know the year in which today’s date is the cutoff – born later than today in 2002 is underage. Any number later than 2002 is a quick trick
3. License Expiration Date (an expired license may not indicate underage, but can’t be accepted as proof).
4. Evidence of Tampering?
5. Is the license format valid in the issuing state? Licenses using outdated formats are often red flags for a fake.
6. Validate other security details. Ghost images, UV images, state seals, and other security features are present on virtually every modern license

Train, train, and train some more. Validating IDs is a skill that improves with practice and proper training. Don’t expect employees to figure it all out on their own.

Question 15

What are the 4 forms of acceptable ID?

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Answer 15

1. State Driver’s License
2. State issued ID card
3. Passport
4. Military ID

Question 16

Review the California Drink Chart Guide

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Answer 16

This chart provides only an estimate of BAC. It’s good to have an idea of how many drinks a person could consume before he/she is intoxicated.

Question 17

Could you or your employer be held liable for your customer’s DUI?

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Answer 17

Yes. Either the licensee or the server could be sued for injuries or death that resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Remember, ‘liable’ is not the same as ‘criminal.’

Question 18

What are the 3 kinds of alcohol-related liability?

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Answer 18

1. Administrative liability - This affects the licensee (holder of the liquor license) whether he/she was physically present or not. Being found administratively liable can result in fines, suspension or revocation of liscence, and penalties judged on a case-by-case basis
2. Criminal liability - The individual server or seller can be held responsible for a crime, such as serving a minor, after-hours service, or serving an obviously intoxicated customer
3. Civil liability - The licensee or the server be sued jointly or severally for the injuries or death of their patrons or any others caused by the actions of their patrons.