Which of the following are ways to determine a persons level of intoxication?

Being a successful bartender requires some out-of-the-world skills and out-of-the-box thinking during some tough times. Managing the crowd might be worse, but handling rough customers can be of a completely insane difficulty level. Staying cautious about such behaviour in the bar and also wearing a smile always to greet and serve customers is definitely an acquired skill which comes after many sessions of training and observation. 

Managing intoxicated customers is a nightmare for any bartender. Each day there would be some instances of encountering such cases in a bar where the patrons would have gotten drunk so much that their actions clearly indicate that they are under the power of intoxication. Alcohol intoxication is due to the elevated levels of BAC [Blood Alcohol Concentration] in the body after the consumption of drinks/beverages with alcohol content in them. Consumption of excessive alcohol can cause intoxication, which later would lead to several problems for the individual and the others surrounding them. 

How and who gets impacted by excessive drinking? 

Galaxy Training Australia preaches some of the best methods to tackle people with intoxication in its RSA [Responsible Service of Alcohol] training for bartenders and bar staff. According to this, the first stage is to identify the people who are intoxicated and help them stay sane and behave in a civil way at the bar joint.

GTA lists many such wonderful points which will give a crystal clear idea about the intoxication assessment of the patron who might have gone a tad bit extra in having a fair share of fun. Here are the top 5 tips for assessing intoxication: 

1. Disturbed coordination:

A patron who is intoxicated often struggles hard to poise while trying to walk or stand. Also, some hand and mind coordination is disrupted while performing actions like paying the check or trying to hold on to something. Leaning towards a wall or any structure to look normal is a sign of an abnormal state of mind. 

2. Difficulty in making judgements:

The intoxicated person initially starts feeling very cheerful and would be full of energy, moving from one place to another. If not physically active, the intoxicated individual speaks aloud coupled with occasional laughter and a very elevated/happy mood. 

3. Lag in responses:

Delay in responding to the questions, a laid-back attitude and a sense of carefree behaviour are some of the common behaviours that indicate public intoxication. The actions would also be like something very strange which the person would not have done it otherwise. Lazing and gazing with a smile are the clear signals. 

4. Despaired vision:

Frequent bashing of eyelids to clear the vision and complaints about seeing things as double or more and less or no clear picture of things in front of them is the best and the easy way to asses an intoxicated patron’s degree of intoxication. The eyes continuously get squinted while trying to focus on an object, repeatedly bumping into stuff around due to blurry eyes and teary red eyes with the above-mentioned symptoms are the proven side-effects of excessive alcohol consumption. 

5. Strange body conditions:

Bad odour of alcohol all over the body, stale mouth odour and grimy-looking shabby clothes are some of the quick indicators of an intoxicated person. Also lying about being drunk, denying the fact of being intoxicated and making aggressive comments and usage of foul language with involuntary moves of assault are the obvious behaviour that shows clear warnings of acute alcohol intoxication. 

How to control alcohol-related Violence? 

The Recovering: Intoxication and its aftermath include some serious conditions like a very bad hangover followed by some fatal health issues that can damage various organs of the human body. Alcohol taken in suggested amounts is always considered a safer option than indulging it gulp after gulp. The intoxication rate factors decide the type of health hazard you may have to encounter later, which is not always treated by medicines to get your body to its normalcy again. Responsible indulgence is a safer option by changing oneself into a social/responsible drinker than a problem drinker.

Also Read: Drinking and Driving - A deadly crime

The best way to assess intoxication is to observe or test a person’s behavior. Every person will show different intoxication symptoms for the same number of drinks he/she consumes. The law enforcement community observes behavior, but must rely on a legally-defined measure of intoxication. This measure is the blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which is normally obtained by breathing into a Breathalyzer™ device. The BAC is calculated from the concentration of alcohol in the breath. In most states, the legally-defined level of alcohol intoxication is a BAC of 0.08%, although Utah is the first state to lower the legal limit for driving to a BAC of 0.05%. [The BAC can also be determined from taking a blood sample, but this procedure takes too much time.]

Learn more more about alcohol and the Breathalyzer™ test.

However, the BAC does not necessarily reflect the actual degree of intoxication. In fact, for the same number of drinks, the degree of intoxication and the BAC can vary significantly among individuals depending on the pattern of drinking, body weight, gender, and genetics (discussed in the next section).

Learn more about alcohol and gender differences.

In addition, the rate at which someone eliminates alcohol from his/her body is important. Because alcohol is eliminated slowly from the body (by metabolism), the BAC will remain elevated well after drinking has ended. If someone is tolerant to alcohol, the rate of elimination by metabolism is most likely faster (see the previous section).

A general association between BAC ranges and the effects of alcohol in the average person can be shown in the table below (Figure 2.7). Note that impairment of alertness, judgment, and coordination can occur at BACs well below the legal limit for driving a vehicle. This has prompted some states, like Utah, to even consider a BAC of 0.05% as the legal limit for driving while impaired from alcohol.

Figure 2.7 Estimation of how the BAC and effects of alcohol correspond to the number of drinks consumed.

The legal BAC limit of 0.08% for intoxication represents a standard of measure and does not precisely reflect the degree to which a person is impaired by alcohol.

In New South Wales alcohol intoxication is an issue to be taken seriously. The liquor and gaming industry has set out intoxication standards for licensing purposes, to which liquor and gaming licensees are expected to adhere. The guidelines, outlined in the  as per the NSW Department of Industry (Liquor and Gaming NSW GL4003 ‘Intoxication Guidelines’) are intended to supplement Sector 5 of the Liquor Act  2007, which is the law that informs the responsible service of alcohol in NSW – RSA Online NSW -.

The purpose of these guidelines is, among others, to help licensees identify whether or not a person is intoxicated. Licensees are obligated to follow the guidelines primarily for these three reasons, as per the GL4003:

• to minimise the harm that is associated with the misuse and abuse of liquor;
• to encourage responsible attributes and practices towards the promotion, sale, supply, service, and consumption of alcohol;
• and to ensure that the sale, supply, and consumption of liquor contributes to, and does not detract from, the amenity of community life.

Liquor licensees are prohibited from selling alcohol to intoxicated persons. This is part of their obligations to serve alcohol responsibly, along with preventing intoxication from occurring on their premises. [Failing to promote or support the responsible service of alcohol can result in the state levying fines, higher licence fees, and the possible suspension or cancellation of liquor or gaming licence]

Intoxication offences that fall under the NSW liquor laws are expanded upon further by the Liquor & Gaming NSW GL4003 ‘Intoxication Guidelines’ and “Prevention of intoxication on licensed premises March 2015” guidelines (the article is downloadable from the NSW Department of Industry’s Liquor & Gaming website). These guidelines are intended for the licensees and their serving staff, providing them with an outline for their obligations as responsible servers.

The intoxication guidelines include four categories of characteristics. These four categories are SPEECH, BALANCE, COORDINATION, and BEHAVIOUR. These categories are neither exhaustive nor conclusive, in and of themselves, but combined may provide a reasonable indication that a person may be intoxicated.

Signs of intoxicated speech may include slurred words, rambling or unintelligible conversation, incoherent or muddled speech, loss of train of thought, inability or failure to understand normal conversation, and difficulty with focusing or paying attention.

Meanwhile, signs of intoxication relating to balance may include a person being unsteady on their feet, swaying uncontrollably, staggering, having difficulty walking, having trouble standing or staying upright, falling or stumbling, and bumping into or knocking over furniture or people.

Lack of coordination may also be a sign of intoxication. As well, spilling or dropping drinks, fumbling with loose change, having difficulty with counting money or paying, having trouble opening or closing doors, and struggling with finding one’s mouth when drinking can be signs that a person is intoxicated.

There’s also behaviour to consider. A person who is rude, aggressive, belligerent, or argumentative may be intoxicated. Displaying offensive or bad-tempered behaviour may also be a sign, as well as a person being physically violent, loud, confused, or disorderly. Offensive language and inappropriate language may fall under intoxicated behaviour. Exuberance and over-friendliness may be more uncommon but are nonetheless considered as signs of intoxication. Drowsiness, vomiting, and rapid drinking are likewise regarded as signs of intoxication.

All of these signs may be considered on their own merits, or in concurrence with other signs, to judge whether or not a person is intoxicated.

Appropriately judging a person’s intoxication or lack thereof takes some training, which RSA Online NSW courses offer. For those interested, courses are available through Club Training Australia so consider a job in responsible service of alcohol today.