The Two-Hour Regular
A 58-year-old man, a familiar regular, arrives at 6:00 p.m. and orders a double whiskey neat. Over the next 90 minutes he has three more doubles - eight shots total - and eats only a small basket of fries. At 7:30 p.m. you notice he is speaking more slowly, has knocked over a napkin dispenser, and is telling the same story about his boat for the third time. His speech is not slurred enough to be obvious to other patrons, and he insists he is 'fine, same as always.' He asks for a fifth double and says he will call a cab 'later.' Blood alcohol estimates for a man his size put him well above the legal driving limit.
1. Using behavioral indicators rather than a number, justify refusing the fifth drink. What signs are present, and which are you still watching for?
Read the worked answer
You do not need a BAC number; you need observable, articulable indicators. Present here:
- Rate and volume: eight shots in 90 minutes with minimal food is a pace that reliably produces impairment.
- Motor: knocking over the napkin dispenser - fine motor control is degrading.
- Speech: slower speech.
- Repetition: telling the same story a third time - short-term memory and attention are affected.
Still watching for: slurred or thick speech, bloodshot/watery eyes, loss of coordination on standing, mood swings or irritability, and confusion about time or place. The fact that he is a regular and 'same as always' is not evidence of sobriety - tolerance changes how drunk someone looks, not how impaired they are. Refuse the fifth drink now, before further deterioration.
2. He says he will call a cab 'later.' What must happen before he leaves, and what do you do if he becomes angry?
Read the worked answer
'Later' is not a plan. Before he leaves you need: (1) no more alcohol, (2) water and food offered, (3) a confirmed ride - you or a manager call the cab and note the time and cab company, (4) do not return his keys if he is clearly impaired, and (5) a manager aware he is being cut off.
If he becomes angry: keep your voice low and calm, avoid arguing about how drunk he is, and use a firm, non-judgmental line - 'I'm not serving you any more alcohol tonight; I want you to get home safe.' Do not physically restrain him. If he tries to drive, that is when you escalate: involve the manager, and if necessary call police rather than let an impaired person drive. Document the refusal and the ride arrangement.