Alcohol Server cheat sheet

A US standard drink contains 0.6 fl oz of pure alcohol: 12 oz beer at 5%, 5 oz wine at 12%, or 1.5 oz of 80-proof spirits at 40%.

Absorption: about 20% of alcohol is taken up in the stomach and about 80% in the small intestine; peak BAC usually occurs 30-90 minutes after drinking.

Food in the stomach slows gastric emptying and lowers peak BAC; carbonated mixers and an empty stomach accelerate absorption.

Widmark formula: BAC% = (A x 5.14 / (W x r)) - 0.015t, where A = ounces of pure alcohol, W = body weight in pounds, r = 0.73 for men or 0.66 for women, and t = hours since the first drink.

The liver eliminates alcohol at roughly 0.015 BAC per hour; time is the only factor that lowers BAC.

Coffee, cold showers, exercise, and vomiting do not reduce BAC; they only mask or change behavior.

At equal dose and weight, women generally reach a higher BAC than men because of lower body water and lower gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity.

US driving limits: 0.08% BAC for adults 21 and older, and 0.02% or less under zero-tolerance laws for drivers under 21.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant; judgment, inhibition, and reaction time are impaired at BAC levels well below 0.08%.

Behavioral cues: slurred or rambling speech, repeating oneself, loud or inappropriate comments, slowed or confused responses, and abrupt mood changes.

Physical cues: bloodshot or glassy eyes, fumbling with money or keys, staggering, poor balance, spilling drinks, and drowsiness.

Impairment begins before legal intoxication; reaction time and judgment decline at low BAC, so a guest who 'seems fine' may still be unsafe.

Tolerance reduces visible signs but not impairment; regular drinkers can be dangerously intoxicated while showing few outward symptoms.

Escalating drink rate (rounds ordered quickly, doubles, drinking on an empty stomach) is a leading predictor of sudden intoxication.

Other depressants, including many prescription medications, combine with alcohol and multiply sedation and coordination loss.

Medical emergency indicators: vomiting while unresponsive, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin, cold clammy skin, or inability to be roused.

Decision rule: any observed cluster of behavioral plus physical cues means no further alcohol service, regardless of the guest's protests.

Acceptable ID is generally a valid, unexpired government photo document: driver's license, state ID card, US passport or passport card, or military ID.

Not acceptable: expired, damaged, photocopied, or altered IDs; school or work badges; credit cards; anything lacking both a photograph and a date of birth.

Inspection sequence: match face to photo, read the full date of birth, confirm the expiration date has not passed, and check holograms, fonts, and lamination for tampering.

Age is computed from month, day, and year: a person born in (current year minus 21) may still be only 20 until the birthday passes.

Vertical 'under 21 until' orientation on many state licenses is a red flag requiring the birth date calculation, not a substitute for it.

If the ID is expired, altered, borrowed, or leaves any doubt, refuse the sale and request a second form of identification.

House policy commonly sets a card-everyone threshold (for example, anyone appearing under 30 or 40); the stricter of law and policy applies.

Serving a minor is a criminal offense even when the minor presented a fake ID; the duty to verify rests with the server.

Dram shop / third-party liability: an establishment or server can be sued civilly for injuries or deaths caused by a guest served while visibly intoxicated.

Criminal exposure for furnishing alcohol to a minor or to a visibly intoxicated person includes fines, license suspension or revocation, and jail.

Liability can attach to the individual server as well as to the business.

The operative legal standard is visible intoxication: once a guest appears intoxicated, any further service creates liability.

Accepting an obviously altered or borrowed ID does not shield the server; reasonable care in verification is required.

The right to refuse service is protected when based on age, lack of valid ID, or apparent intoxication, and is not defamation or unlawful discrimination.

Required server actions: stop alcohol service, remove remaining alcohol, offer alternatives, and arrange safe transport; some jurisdictions mandate preventing the guest from driving.

House policies such as last call, drink limits, and mandatory cutoffs exist to support and document legal compliance.

Count drinks per guest and convert to standard drinks: a 16 oz beer at 8% is about 2 standard drinks, and a two-shot mixed drink is 2 standard drinks.

Pacing guide: roughly one standard drink per hour per guest, with water and food offered between rounds.

Measure spirits and avoid free-pouring; unknown pour sizes make intoxication prediction and tracking impossible.

Monitor continuously: reassess the guest's condition before every new drink rather than relying on the first impression.

Last call procedure: announce the cutoff in advance, stop alcohol at the stated time, and clear glasses while offering water or food.

Never drink on duty and never serve alcohol to yourself or to visibly intoxicated coworkers.

Slow-service tactics: delay the next round, suggest food, offer a non-alcoholic alternative, or propose a break.

Refusal is a service action, not an accusation: state the decision factually, then offer water, food, or transport.

Refusal phrasing: state the limit plainly ('I can't serve you any more alcohol tonight') without accusing, moralizing, or embarrassing the guest.

Conduct the conversation quietly and away from other guests; public confrontation increases the chance of escalation.

Offer alternatives immediately: water, food, a taxi or rideshare, or a call to a sober friend.

Enlist backup from a manager or security before a dispute grows; a second staff member shares the decision and lowers confrontation risk.

Escalation indicators include raised voice, clenched fists, pacing, threats, and invasion of personal space; respond by keeping distance and calling police if needed.

Do not physically restrain or chase a guest; physical intervention creates injury and liability risk.

Safe departure rule: never return keys to an obviously intoxicated guest; if they insist on driving, note the vehicle and plate and notify police.

Every refusal and every intervention is documented, including time, behavior observed, and actions taken.

Write observable facts, not conclusions: 'slurred speech, swayed while standing, spilled drink twice' rather than 'was drunk' or 'was rude.'

Required elements: date, time, location, names and descriptions of those involved, drinks served, behaviors observed, actions taken, and witnesses.

Record ID checks, refusal statements, transport arrangements, injuries, property damage, police involvement, and any 911 call.

Write the report during or immediately after the shift while memory is fresh; sign and date the entry.

Never alter, backdate, or destroy a report after submission; corrections are made as dated addenda.

Report to the manager or owner promptly per house policy, and follow the establishment's chain-of-custody for records.

Retain incident reports for the period required by law or company policy; they may be used in legal proceedings.

Witness statements should be recorded in the witness's own words and attributed by name.