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Alcohol Server practice questions

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Question 1Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Most of the alcohol a person drinks is absorbed into the bloodstream through the:

  1. esophagus
  2. small intestine Correct answer.
  3. large intestine
  4. stomach lining

Explanation

Ethanol is absorbed along the whole digestive tract, but the small intestine accounts for roughly 70 to 80 percent of uptake because of its enormous surface area. The stomach absorbs a smaller share, and passage through the esophagus and colon is minor.

Question 2Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Drinking on an empty stomach raises blood alcohol faster because:

  1. an empty stomach speeds liver metabolism
  2. food slows alcohol's exit from the stomach Correct answer.
  3. food chemically binds alcohol in the stomach
  4. an empty stomach raises stomach acid

Explanation

The pyloric valve releases stomach contents into the small intestine, where absorption is fastest. Food in the stomach delays that emptying, so alcohol enters the bloodstream more gradually and the peak BAC is lower.

Question 3Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Blood alcohol concentration is typically reported as:

  1. millilitres per kilogram of body weight
  2. grams per litre of urine
  3. grams per 100 millilitres of blood Correct answer.
  4. milligrams per litre of breath

Explanation

BAC is expressed as the weight of ethanol in a set volume of blood, usually grams per 100 millilitres, so 0.08 means 0.08 grams per 100 millilitres (80 mg per 100 millilitres). Breath testers use a different unit, milligrams per litre of breath, and convert the result.

Question 4Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Most of the alcohol a drinker consumes is broken down by the:

  1. liver Correct answer.
  2. lungs
  3. pancreas
  4. kidneys

Explanation

The liver carries out over 90 percent of ethanol oxidation, chiefly through alcohol dehydrogenase and the microsomal enzyme system. Only a small fraction escapes unchanged through breath, urine and sweat.

Question 5Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

A standard drink in the United States contains approximately how much pure alcohol?

  1. 7 grams
  2. 14 grams Correct answer.
  3. 40 grams
  4. 28 grams

Explanation

A US standard drink is defined as 0.6 fluid ounces of pure ethanol, which is about 14 grams. That equals roughly 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

Question 6Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

A bottle labeled 100 proof contains what percentage of alcohol by volume?

  1. 50 percent Correct answer.
  2. 10 percent
  3. 100 percent
  4. 25 percent

Explanation

In the US system, proof is double the alcohol by volume, so 100 proof equals 50 percent alcohol. A 90-proof spirit is therefore 45 percent ethanol.

Question 7Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

A drinker who becomes unsteady and cannot walk a straight line is showing impairment of the:

  1. hypothalamus
  2. medulla oblongata
  3. pituitary gland
  4. cerebellum Correct answer.

Explanation

The cerebellum coordinates balance, posture and smooth voluntary movement, and it is highly sensitive to ethanol. Its depression produces staggering, slurred speech and poor coordination.

Question 8Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Alcohol makes a drinker feel warm on the skin because it:

  1. increases core body temperature
  2. constricts blood vessels in the skin
  3. stimulates shivering
  4. widens blood vessels in the skin Correct answer.

Explanation

Ethanol dilates peripheral blood vessels, sending warm blood to the skin and creating a flushed, warm sensation. Because that heat is lost to the environment, core temperature actually falls, which is why drinking in cold weather raises hypothermia risk.

Question 9Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

On average, the liver clears alcohol at a rate that lowers BAC by about:

  1. 0.015 per hour Correct answer.
  2. 0.05 per hour
  3. 0.10 per hour
  4. 0.001 per hour

Explanation

Typical elimination is roughly 0.015 grams per 100 millilitres of blood per hour, close to one standard drink per hour for an average adult. Rates vary somewhat with body size, liver health and food intake but cannot be sped up.

Question 10Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Which of these actually reduces a person's blood alcohol concentration?

  1. Eating a large meal afterwards
  2. Drinking strong coffee
  3. Waiting for time to pass Correct answer.
  4. Taking a cold shower

Explanation

Only the liver's metabolism removes alcohol from the body, and it works at a fixed rate, so BAC falls only as time passes. Coffee, cold water and food may change how a person feels but do not clear ethanol already in the blood.

Question 11Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Two people drink the same amount of alcohol. BAC will generally be higher in the person with:

  1. a larger skeletal muscle mass
  2. more body fat Correct answer.
  3. a higher total body water
  4. a greater total body weight

Explanation

Ethanol dissolves in water, not fat, so it is diluted mainly by the body's water compartment. A person with a high proportion of adipose tissue has less water to dilute the same dose and therefore reaches a higher BAC.

Question 12Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Which beverage is likely to raise BAC fastest?

  1. Beer served flat
  2. Wine with a low alcohol content
  3. Champagne served cold Correct answer.
  4. Whiskey mixed with water

Explanation

Carbonation speeds gastric emptying and increases the rate at which ethanol reaches the small intestine, so sparkling drinks are absorbed faster. Dilution, low alcohol content and flatness all slow absorption by comparison.

Question 13Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

After a person finishes drinking, BAC usually peaks within:

  1. 30 to 90 minutes Correct answer.
  2. 5 to 10 minutes
  3. 12 to 18 hours
  4. 3 to 5 hours

Explanation

Absorption generally continues for roughly half an hour to an hour and a half after the last drink, depending on food, carbonation and the type of beverage. After that, elimination outpaces absorption and BAC begins to fall.

Question 14Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Roughly what share of consumed alcohol leaves the body unchanged in breath, urine and sweat?

  1. About 50 percent
  2. About 5 to 10 percent Correct answer.
  3. About 25 percent
  4. About 40 percent

Explanation

The liver oxidizes more than 90 percent of ingested ethanol, and only a small remainder is excreted unchanged. That small fraction is what breath and urine tests detect.

Question 15Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Alcohol increases urine output because it:

  1. reduces release of antidiuretic hormone Correct answer.
  2. increases blood flow to the bladder
  3. directly damages the bladder wall
  4. increases sodium reabsorption in the kidney

Explanation

Ethanol suppresses release of antidiuretic hormone from the pituitary, so the kidneys reabsorb less water and produce more dilute urine. This fluid loss contributes to dehydration and to hangover symptoms.

Question 16Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

A heavy drinker who appears to handle liquor better than a novice:

  1. has a larger liver than the novice
  2. reaches a lower BAC than the novice at the same dose
  3. has developed tolerance at a similar BAC Correct answer.
  4. processes alcohol more quickly than the novice

Explanation

Tolerance mainly changes how a person responds to a given BAC, not the BAC itself. The experienced drinker may show fewer outward signs at the same blood level, which is dangerous because impairment of judgment and reaction time persists.

Question 17Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Alcohol disappears from the blood at a roughly constant rate regardless of how much was drunk because:

  1. alcohol is stored in fat and released slowly
  2. the kidneys filter alcohol at a fixed pressure
  3. breath excretion remains constant
  4. liver enzymes become saturated Correct answer.

Explanation

At ordinary drinking levels the liver's enzymes are already working at capacity, so elimination follows zero-order kinetics: a fixed amount per hour rather than a fixed percentage. This is why very high BACs take disproportionately long to fall.

Question 18Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Which choice is most associated with more severe hangovers?

  1. Drinks with very low alcohol content
  2. Clear spirits mixed with soda
  3. Vodka served cold
  4. Dark liquors high in congeners Correct answer.

Explanation

Congeners are minor byproducts of fermentation and aging, such as methanol and tannins, that are more abundant in dark liquors. Higher congener intake is associated with worse hangover severity even at matched alcohol doses.

Question 19Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Alcohol consumed shortly before bed typically:

  1. increases REM sleep in the first hour
  2. has no measurable effect on sleep
  3. deepens sleep throughout the night
  4. fragments sleep later in the night Correct answer.

Explanation

Alcohol shortens the time needed to fall asleep but suppresses REM early and is metabolized within a few hours. The resulting rebound produces lighter, fragmented sleep and early waking in the second half of the night.

Question 20Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Alcohol affects a developing fetus because ethanol:

  1. collects only in the amniotic fluid after birth
  2. is produced in the fetal liver
  3. is carried by maternal antibodies
  4. crosses the placenta from the mother's blood Correct answer.

Explanation

Ethanol is a small molecule soluble in both water and fat, so it passes freely across the placenta and reaches fetal blood at concentrations close to the mother's. The fetal liver is too immature to clear it efficiently.

Question 21Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

First-pass metabolism of alcohol refers to:

  1. removal of alcohol through the lungs
  2. breakdown in the stomach and liver before absorption Correct answer.
  3. filtering of alcohol by the kidneys
  4. the rapid rush of alcohol into the brain

Explanation

Some ethanol is oxidized by gastric alcohol dehydrogenase and by the liver before it ever reaches the systemic circulation. This reduces the BAC produced by a given dose and is lower in women, in people taking certain medications, and when drinking on an empty stomach.

Question 22Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

An alcohol-induced blackout is best explained by:

  1. failure to form new memories while awake Correct answer.
  2. loss of consciousness during heavy drinking
  3. a drop in blood glucose that erases memory
  4. permanent destruction of stored memories

Explanation

High doses of ethanol disrupt the hippocampus, blocking the consolidation of new long-term memories. The person may remain conscious and conversational but later has no record of the period, and the gap is anterograde amnesia rather than erased memory.

Question 23Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

The facial flushing and nausea some people get after drinking are caused mainly by:

  1. an allergic reaction to barley or hops
  2. excess alcohol evaporating through the skin
  3. a sudden drop in blood pressure
  4. acetaldehyde accumulating in the blood Correct answer.

Explanation

Alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, a toxic intermediate that aldehyde dehydrogenase then clears. People with a slow-acting aldehyde dehydrogenase variant, common in East Asian populations, build up acetaldehyde and develop flushing, headache and nausea.

Question 24Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Breath testing estimates blood alcohol concentration on the principle that:

  1. exhaled alcohol is converted to glucose before measurement
  2. breath alcohol reflects liver enzyme levels
  3. the lungs absorb alcohol in proportion to body weight
  4. breath alcohol is a fixed fraction of blood alcohol Correct answer.

Explanation

Deep-lung air is assumed to stand in a fixed partition ratio with blood, roughly 2100 to 1 at body temperature. A breath analyzer measures ethanol in the sample and applies that ratio to estimate BAC.

Question 25Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

At very high blood alcohol concentrations, death is most often caused by:

  1. liver failure within hours
  2. cardiac arrest from dehydration
  3. kidney shutdown
  4. respiratory depression and aspiration Correct answer.

Explanation

Ethanol depresses the medulla's control of breathing, and a heavily intoxicated person may also inhale vomit because protective reflexes are blunted. These acute effects, not organ failure, are the usual cause of fatal alcohol poisoning.

Question 26Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

In the United States, which of these is considered one standard drink?

  1. a 16-ounce pint of beer at about 5% alcohol
  2. 12 ounces of regular beer at about 5% alcohol Correct answer.
  3. a 12-ounce bottle of beer at about 9% alcohol
  4. a 20-ounce glass of wine at about 12% alcohol

Explanation

A US standard drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol, which corresponds to 12 ounces of regular beer at roughly 5% alcohol by volume. Serving size and strength trade off against each other, so larger pours or stronger products contain more than one standard drink.

Question 27Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Most of the alcohol a person drinks passes into the bloodstream from which part of the digestive tract?

  1. The small intestine Correct answer.
  2. The large intestine
  3. The stomach
  4. The mouth and esophagus

Explanation

Because the small intestine has an enormous surface area and rich blood supply, the majority of ingested ethanol is absorbed there. The stomach absorbs a smaller but meaningful share, while the mouth and large intestine contribute very little.

Question 28Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

Drinking the same amount of alcohol with a meal rather than on an empty stomach produces a lower BAC mainly because food:

  1. slows gastric emptying and delays absorption Correct answer.
  2. dilutes the alcohol so that less of it enters the bloodstream at all
  3. increases liver enzyme activity so alcohol is broken down faster
  4. raises stomach acidity, which destroys alcohol before it can be absorbed

Explanation

Food, especially a fatty or protein-rich meal, slows the rate at which the stomach empties into the small intestine. Delayed delivery of ethanol to the main absorption site spreads absorption over time and lets the liver begin clearing alcohol earlier, blunting the peak BAC.

Question 29Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

A blood alcohol concentration reported as 0.08% means that the blood contains:

  1. 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood Correct answer.
  2. 0.08 grams of alcohol per milliliter of blood
  3. 0.08 milligrams of alcohol per liter of blood
  4. 8 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood

Explanation

BAC is expressed as weight of ethanol per volume of blood, with 0.08% meaning 0.08 grams (80 milligrams) of ethanol in each 100 milliliters of blood. This convention is why the figure rises in small steps as a person drinks.

Question 30Alcohol and the Human Body: absorption, blood alcohol concentration, and physiological effects

In methanol poisoning, ethanol is sometimes given as a treatment because ethanol:

  1. binds methanol directly and neutralizes it in the bloodstream
  2. raises blood pH, which stops methanol from being absorbed
  3. increases liver blood flow so methanol is cleared faster
  4. competes for alcohol dehydrogenase, blocking methanol's toxic breakdown Correct answer.

Explanation

Methanol itself is relatively harmless, but alcohol dehydrogenase converts it into formaldehyde and formic acid, which damage the optic nerve and other tissues. Ethanol has a higher affinity for the same enzyme, so saturating it with ethanol keeps methanol from being metabolized until it can be excreted or dialyzed.

Question 31Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measures which of the following?

  1. The number of drinks a person has consumed in the past hour
  2. The percentage of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream Correct answer.
  3. The amount of alcohol still sitting in a person's stomach
  4. The speed at which a person's liver breaks down alcohol

Explanation

BAC expresses the concentration of alcohol in the blood, usually as a percentage, and is the standard measure of how much alcohol is affecting the body. It is shaped by how much was drunk, how fast it was absorbed, body size, and elapsed time, not by a simple drink count.

Question 32Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

As a guest's BAC begins to rise, which ability is typically affected first?

  1. Judgment and self-control Correct answer.
  2. Clear pronunciation of words
  3. Fine control of the fingers
  4. Steady balance while standing

Explanation

Alcohol dulls the brain's higher functions before it disrupts physical coordination, so reasoning, inhibitions, and decision-making decline at BACs well below the level that causes visible clumsiness. Servers often notice a change in behavior before they notice a change in the walk.

Question 33Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Which of these is generally treated as one standard drink in the United States?

  1. 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits Correct answer.
  2. A 22 oz bottle of malt liquor at 8% alcohol
  3. A 12 oz glass of wine at 12% alcohol
  4. A 16 oz pint of craft beer at 7% alcohol

Explanation

A US standard drink contains about 0.6 oz of pure alcohol, which equals 1.5 oz of 80-proof spirits, 12 oz of 5% beer, or 5 oz of 12% wine. Larger pours or stronger products count as more than one drink.

Question 34Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Which of these actually lowers a person's BAC?

  1. Taking a cold shower
  2. Eating a heavy meal
  3. Drinking strong coffee
  4. Waiting, because the liver clears alcohol at a steady rate Correct answer.

Explanation

The liver metabolizes alcohol at a fairly fixed pace, roughly one standard drink per hour for most adults, and no home remedy speeds that up. Coffee, cold water, and food may change how a person feels without changing the BAC.

Question 35Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Which observation most strongly suggests that a guest may be intoxicated?

  1. Arriving early and greeting the staff by name
  2. Speaking loudly and repeating stories Correct answer.
  3. Ordering a glass of water between drinks
  4. Paying the tab in exact change

Explanation

Loss of inhibition shows up as increased volume, repetition, and a shift in mood or familiarity, which are classic early behavioral cues of a rising BAC. Servers should track these cues alongside drink counts and pace.

Question 36Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

A guest boasts, "I can drink most people under the table and still walk straight." How should the server interpret this?

  1. The guest's BAC will be lower than other guests who drink the same amount
  2. The guest may show fewer outward signs while still being impaired Correct answer.
  3. The guest has earned the right to be served more alcohol
  4. The guest will process alcohol faster and sober up sooner

Explanation

Tolerance means the brain adapts to alcohol, so an experienced drinker may look and feel more normal at a given BAC. It does not lower BAC or restore judgment and reaction time, so the guest remains impaired and unsafe to serve further.

Question 37Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Which set of signs suggests possible alcohol poisoning and requires emergency help?

  1. Frequent trips to the restroom
  2. Sipping water between drinks
  3. Slow, irregular breathing and inability to be roused Correct answer.
  4. Flushed cheeks and a loud laugh

Explanation

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency marked by slow or irregular breathing, cold or clammy skin, vomiting, seizures, and a person who cannot be woken. Staff should call 911 immediately and stay with the guest.

Question 38Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

How does eating a meal before or during drinking usually affect alcohol absorption?

  1. It has no measurable effect on BAC
  2. It speeds alcohol into the bloodstream and raises BAC faster
  3. It permanently prevents alcohol from being absorbed
  4. It slows absorption, so BAC tends to rise more gradually Correct answer.

Explanation

Food in the stomach slows the passage of alcohol into the small intestine, where most absorption occurs, so BAC climbs more slowly and peaks lower. It does not stop absorption or reduce a BAC that is already high.

Question 39Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Two guests each drink three beers in the same 90 minutes. One weighs about 120 pounds and the other about 200 pounds. What is the most likely outcome?

  1. Body weight has no influence on BAC
  2. Both will reach exactly the same BAC because the drinks are identical
  3. The 200-pound guest will reach a higher BAC because they have more blood
  4. The 120-pound guest will generally reach a higher BAC Correct answer.

Explanation

The same amount of alcohol is diluted into a smaller body mass and less body water in a lighter person, so the resulting BAC is higher. Servers should weigh size along with drink strength and pace.

Question 40Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Why is a vodka-and-soda absorbed faster than the same amount of vodka mixed with juice?

  1. Sugar in juice converts into alcohol in the stomach
  2. Carbonated mixers are usually served colder than juice
  3. Carbonation speeds alcohol from the stomach into the small intestine Correct answer.
  4. Carbonation adds extra alcohol to the drink

Explanation

Carbon dioxide irritates the stomach lining and speeds emptying, pushing alcohol into the small intestine where absorption is rapid, so BAC rises faster. Servers should watch carbonated mixed drinks more closely.

Question 41Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

At the same body weight and the same number of drinks, why do women often reach a higher BAC than men?

  1. Women generally have a larger liver relative to body size
  2. Women generally carry more body fat and less body water to dilute alcohol Correct answer.
  3. Women generally empty their stomachs more slowly after drinking
  4. Women generally produce more alcohol-digesting enzymes in the stomach lining

Explanation

Alcohol dissolves in water rather than fat, so a body with more fat and less water produces a higher blood alcohol concentration from the same dose. This is one reason a server cannot judge impairment from drink count alone.

Question 42Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

One guest drinks three beers in an hour; another drinks three beers over three hours. What is the key difference?

  1. The fast drinker will end up with a lower BAC
  2. The slow drinker will end up with a higher BAC
  3. Nothing; BAC depends only on the total number of drinks consumed
  4. The fast drinker's BAC peaks higher because the liver clears alcohol slowly Correct answer.

Explanation

The liver removes only about one standard drink per hour, so drinking faster than the body can clear alcohol makes BAC climb quickly. The same total number of drinks spread over time produces a lower peak.

Question 43Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Why should a server be cautious about serving alcohol mixed with high-caffeine energy drinks?

  1. Caffeine chemically neutralizes alcohol in the bloodstream
  2. Caffeine can mask intoxication while coordination stays impaired Correct answer.
  3. Energy drinks slow alcohol absorption so guests sober up faster
  4. Caffeine lowers BAC by increasing urine production

Explanation

Caffeine makes a guest feel more alert without reversing alcohol's effects on judgment, balance, and reaction time. Guests may drink more and take bigger risks because they feel less drunk than they actually are.

Question 44Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

A guest mentions using cannabis before arriving, then orders a cocktail. What should the server expect?

  1. Cannabis does not interact with alcohol
  2. Cannabis only matters if it is used at the table
  3. Cannabis speeds alcohol metabolism, so the guest stays sober
  4. The combination can intensify impairment beyond either substance alone Correct answer.

Explanation

Alcohol and cannabis both impair coordination, reaction time, and judgment, and together the effects can be stronger than either alone. The server should apply the same refusal standards used for alcohol.

Question 45Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

A guest says they are taking a prescription medication and orders a beer. What is the safest response?

  1. Watch closely for added impairment and involve a manager Correct answer.
  2. Serve a smaller pour without mentioning it
  3. Serve it, since prescription drugs never interact with alcohol
  4. Ask the guest to sign a waiver, then serve normally

Explanation

Many medications, including sedatives, pain relievers, and antidepressants, increase drowsiness and motor impairment when combined with alcohol. A server cannot evaluate the drug, but should monitor for signs and bring a manager in.

Question 46Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

As BAC continues to climb past mild impairment, which change is most likely to appear?

  1. Stumbling, poor coordination, and slurred speech Correct answer.
  2. Reduced heart rate to a dangerous level right away
  3. Steadier balance and clearer speech
  4. Sharper reflexes and quicker reactions

Explanation

At higher BACs the brain areas controlling balance and speech are affected, producing staggering, clumsiness, and thick speech. These are late, obvious signs that service should stop.

Question 47Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Which of these drinks contains the most pure alcohol?

  1. 1.5 oz of 80-proof spirits
  2. 12 oz of beer at 5% alcohol
  3. 1.5 oz of 100-proof spirits Correct answer.
  4. 5 oz of wine at 12% alcohol

Explanation

Proof is twice the alcohol percentage, so 100-proof spirits are 50% alcohol and 1.5 oz contains about 0.75 oz of pure alcohol. Each of the other three contains about 0.6 oz, roughly one standard drink.

Question 48Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

A guest switches from 12 oz bottles of 5% beer to 12 oz servings of a 9% craft beer and keeps the same pace. What is the likely result?

  1. BAC will rise more slowly because craft beer is sipped
  2. The guest will sober up faster because the higher alcohol content speeds metabolism
  3. No change, because the serving size is the same
  4. BAC will rise faster because each serving delivers nearly twice the alcohol Correct answer.

Explanation

Alcohol content, not just volume, determines how much pure alcohol reaches the bloodstream. Nearly doubling the strength nearly doubles the alcohol per serving, so the same pace produces a faster rise in BAC.

Question 49Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Why should a server be more watchful with a guest who is visibly exhausted, ill, or has not eaten all day?

  1. These factors make alcohol taste stronger but do not affect impairment
  2. These factors make the liver process alcohol more quickly than usual
  3. These factors make it illegal to serve the guest under any circumstances
  4. They increase alcohol's effect, so impairment can appear with fewer drinks Correct answer.

Explanation

Fatigue, illness, and an empty stomach lower a person's tolerance for alcohol, so a small amount can produce noticeable impairment. The same drink count can be far more dangerous for this guest.

Question 50Recognizing Intoxication and Impairment

Which of these medical conditions can produce behavior that looks like intoxication?

  1. A mild sunburn
  2. Seasonal allergies
  3. Low blood sugar in a diabetic guest or a head injury Correct answer.
  4. A recent haircut

Explanation

Low blood sugar, stroke, and head injury can cause slurred speech, confusion, and unsteadiness that resemble intoxication. A server should stop serving, get help, and treat the situation as a medical concern when a guest seems unwell.