Cicerone Exam with complete solutions
2024/2025
The levels in the Cicerone Certification Program are... - ANSWER-Level 1:
Certified Beer Server
Level 2: Certified Cicerone
Level 3: Advanced Cicerone
Level 4: Master Cicerone
At each level of the Cicerone Certification Program, you may refer to yourself as...
- ANSWER-Level 1: Certified Beer Server or Beer Server
Level 2: Cicerone or Certified Cicerone
Level 3: Advanced Cicerone
Level 4: Master Cicerone
What is the three-tier system in the US? - ANSWER-A brewer or importer can only
sell to a wholesaler (i.e. distributor), who can only sell to a retailer, who can only
sell to a consumer. It requires legal separation between all of these tiers. In other
words, a company can't brew beer AND own a bar (except where there's a state
exception, like a brewpub).
Brewer/Importer > Wholesaler/Distributor > Retailer > Consumer
Why the three-tier system? - ANSWER-1. Makes tax collection easier for the state
2. Protect consumers from abuses by companies that make or sell alcohol
3. Create competition in the market
It is illegal for a person to have ownership interests in companies that do
business in more than one of the tiers.
, What are the two types of retailers? - ANSWER-1. On-premise: sells beer for
consumption on their premises, like a bar or restaurant.
2. Off-premise: sells beer for consumption elsewhere, like a grocery store or
bottle shop.
Exceptions to the three-tier system - ANSWER-1. Allowing production breweries
to brew beer and also sell it directly to consumers for either on-site or off-site
consumption from a taproom or shop at the brewery.
2. Allowing brewpubs to brew beer and sell directly to consumers for on-site or
off-site consumption, such as pints with meals or growlers to go.
3. BONUS: Some states allow small brewers (that make less than a defined
number of of barrels per year) to sell directly to retailers rather than going
through a wholesaler. This allows them to skip the middleman, make greater
profits, and control distribution until they reach a certain size.
What are the effects of alcohol on the body? - ANSWER-Alcohol is a central
nervous system depressant. It affects people in very low concentrations.
The American Medical Association has defined the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
for impairment for all people at only 0.04 BAC. BAC is a percentage of blood by
volume, so 0.04 BAC means your blood is 0.04% alcohol (not 4%!).
Even at this low level there is divided attention and a narrowing of a person's
"attention field."
At 0.08 BAC a person is considered too intoxicated to drive
Alcohol absorption - ANSWER-10-20% of alcohol will be absorbed in the stomach,
75-80% will be absorbed in the small intestine. Depending on how long ago the
person has eaten and what the dose of alcohol is, peak BAC levels can be
reached as quickly as 30 minutes or as long as 4 hours from ingestion. Eating
food delays peak BAC because the pyloric valve at the bottom of the stomach will
close to allow digestion, keeping the alcohol from reaching the more efficient
small intestine as rapidly.
Alcohol elimination - ANSWER-The liver metabolizes and eliminates 95% of
ingested alcohol. Remaining alcohol is eliminated in breath, urine, sweat, feces,
milk, and saliva. The body's metabolic process involves oxidation of alcohol into
acetaldehyde (that green apple smell on a drunk person's breath), on to acetic
acid, and finally into carbon dioxide and water. For typical healthy people, alcohol
is eliminated at a rate of about one average drink (0.5 oz. or 5 ml) of alcohol per
hour.
2024/2025
The levels in the Cicerone Certification Program are... - ANSWER-Level 1:
Certified Beer Server
Level 2: Certified Cicerone
Level 3: Advanced Cicerone
Level 4: Master Cicerone
At each level of the Cicerone Certification Program, you may refer to yourself as...
- ANSWER-Level 1: Certified Beer Server or Beer Server
Level 2: Cicerone or Certified Cicerone
Level 3: Advanced Cicerone
Level 4: Master Cicerone
What is the three-tier system in the US? - ANSWER-A brewer or importer can only
sell to a wholesaler (i.e. distributor), who can only sell to a retailer, who can only
sell to a consumer. It requires legal separation between all of these tiers. In other
words, a company can't brew beer AND own a bar (except where there's a state
exception, like a brewpub).
Brewer/Importer > Wholesaler/Distributor > Retailer > Consumer
Why the three-tier system? - ANSWER-1. Makes tax collection easier for the state
2. Protect consumers from abuses by companies that make or sell alcohol
3. Create competition in the market
It is illegal for a person to have ownership interests in companies that do
business in more than one of the tiers.
, What are the two types of retailers? - ANSWER-1. On-premise: sells beer for
consumption on their premises, like a bar or restaurant.
2. Off-premise: sells beer for consumption elsewhere, like a grocery store or
bottle shop.
Exceptions to the three-tier system - ANSWER-1. Allowing production breweries
to brew beer and also sell it directly to consumers for either on-site or off-site
consumption from a taproom or shop at the brewery.
2. Allowing brewpubs to brew beer and sell directly to consumers for on-site or
off-site consumption, such as pints with meals or growlers to go.
3. BONUS: Some states allow small brewers (that make less than a defined
number of of barrels per year) to sell directly to retailers rather than going
through a wholesaler. This allows them to skip the middleman, make greater
profits, and control distribution until they reach a certain size.
What are the effects of alcohol on the body? - ANSWER-Alcohol is a central
nervous system depressant. It affects people in very low concentrations.
The American Medical Association has defined the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
for impairment for all people at only 0.04 BAC. BAC is a percentage of blood by
volume, so 0.04 BAC means your blood is 0.04% alcohol (not 4%!).
Even at this low level there is divided attention and a narrowing of a person's
"attention field."
At 0.08 BAC a person is considered too intoxicated to drive
Alcohol absorption - ANSWER-10-20% of alcohol will be absorbed in the stomach,
75-80% will be absorbed in the small intestine. Depending on how long ago the
person has eaten and what the dose of alcohol is, peak BAC levels can be
reached as quickly as 30 minutes or as long as 4 hours from ingestion. Eating
food delays peak BAC because the pyloric valve at the bottom of the stomach will
close to allow digestion, keeping the alcohol from reaching the more efficient
small intestine as rapidly.
Alcohol elimination - ANSWER-The liver metabolizes and eliminates 95% of
ingested alcohol. Remaining alcohol is eliminated in breath, urine, sweat, feces,
milk, and saliva. The body's metabolic process involves oxidation of alcohol into
acetaldehyde (that green apple smell on a drunk person's breath), on to acetic
acid, and finally into carbon dioxide and water. For typical healthy people, alcohol
is eliminated at a rate of about one average drink (0.5 oz. or 5 ml) of alcohol per
hour.
