Section 4Page 32
Let's review everything we've covered in this section with three practice scenarios that deal with an intoxicated guest:
Scenario 1:
Joanne and Kim are both going to be drinking at your party tonight. After checking their IDs to make sure that they are both at least 21, you start serving them. Both of the girls have consumed 4 standard drinks in the last two hours. But, Joanne has been slurring her speech and falling over, while Kim has just appeared to become more relaxed. Why is this?
Scenario 1 Solution:
Joanne drank all 4 of her drinks within a 30 minute period, while Kim has averaged 1 drink every 30 minutes. The rate of absorption is one of the three major factors that contribute to intoxication. Since Joanne consumed all of her drinks so quickly, she became intoxicated faster, possibly to a dangerous level. Something else that effects rate of absorption is whether or not carbonated drinks were consumed with the alcohol. If both Joanne and Kim consumed the same amounts of alcohol at the same time and Joanne mixed her drinks with soda, then Joanne would become intoxicated faster.
To keep something like this from happening, as a server you can pace someone’s consumption of alcohol. If you notice someone finishing drinks very quickly, you can tell them to come back in a little bit for a refill, as opposed to filling up their drink whenever they request it. This can help to keep them safe from physical harm and help protect you from liability issues.
Joanne and Kim are both going to be drinking at your party tonight. After checking their IDs to make sure that they are both at least 21, you start serving them. Both of the girls have consumed 4 standard drinks in the last two hours. But, Joanne has been slurring her speech and falling over, while Kim has just appeared to become more relaxed. Why is this?
Scenario 1 Solution:
Joanne drank all 4 of her drinks within a 30 minute period, while Kim has averaged 1 drink every 30 minutes. The rate of absorption is one of the three major factors that contribute to intoxication. Since Joanne consumed all of her drinks so quickly, she became intoxicated faster, possibly to a dangerous level. Something else that effects rate of absorption is whether or not carbonated drinks were consumed with the alcohol. If both Joanne and Kim consumed the same amounts of alcohol at the same time and Joanne mixed her drinks with soda, then Joanne would become intoxicated faster.
To keep something like this from happening, as a server you can pace someone’s consumption of alcohol. If you notice someone finishing drinks very quickly, you can tell them to come back in a little bit for a refill, as opposed to filling up their drink whenever they request it. This can help to keep them safe from physical harm and help protect you from liability issues.
Scenario 2:
In another scenario, Joanne and Kim have each had four drinks, one drink every 30 minutes. But now, Kim is slurring her speech and being rude to people, something she would not normally do. Why is she acting more intoxicated than Joanne?
Scenario 2 Solution:
After consideration, you realize that Kim weighs less than Joanne. Someone’s body size is the second major factor that contributes to intoxication.
A larger person generally can have more alcohol than someone who is smaller without becoming intoxicated. As a server, this is something you should keep in mind. When you see a smaller person trying to ‘keep up’ with a larger person when it comes to drinking, you can give less alcohol to the smaller person or serve them less frequently.
In another scenario, Joanne and Kim have each had four drinks, one drink every 30 minutes. But now, Kim is slurring her speech and being rude to people, something she would not normally do. Why is she acting more intoxicated than Joanne?
Scenario 2 Solution:
After consideration, you realize that Kim weighs less than Joanne. Someone’s body size is the second major factor that contributes to intoxication.
A larger person generally can have more alcohol than someone who is smaller without becoming intoxicated. As a server, this is something you should keep in mind. When you see a smaller person trying to ‘keep up’ with a larger person when it comes to drinking, you can give less alcohol to the smaller person or serve them less frequently.
Scenario 3:
Finally, let’s consider Joanne and her brother Joe. This time, both have again consumed the same amount of drinks every half hour. However, Joanne is appearing more intoxicated than Joe.
Scenario 3 Solution:
It is obvious at this point that gender is the final major factor to consider when determining someone’s level of intoxication. If two individuals are drinking at the same rate and are the same size, if one individual is male they will not become as intoxicated as quickly as a female. This is one more key you should keep an eye on as a server. If a female guest is matching drinks with a male guest, you should consider serving the female guest less frequently or with less alcohol.
Finally, let’s consider Joanne and her brother Joe. This time, both have again consumed the same amount of drinks every half hour. However, Joanne is appearing more intoxicated than Joe.
Scenario 3 Solution:
It is obvious at this point that gender is the final major factor to consider when determining someone’s level of intoxication. If two individuals are drinking at the same rate and are the same size, if one individual is male they will not become as intoxicated as quickly as a female. This is one more key you should keep an eye on as a server. If a female guest is matching drinks with a male guest, you should consider serving the female guest less frequently or with less alcohol.