1. What is a standard drink? - ANSWER Board Regulations provide that a standard-sized
alcoholic beverage is twelve (12) fluid ounces of malt or brewed beverage, four (4) fluid
ounces of wine (including fortified wine), or one and one-half (1½) fluid ounces of spirits. [40
Pa. Code § 13.201].
2. What is the difference between light beer and regular beer? - ANSWER The main
difference between light and regular beer is calories. Light beer has fewer calories than
regular beer.
3. How many drinks can the body eliminate per hour? At what rate does the body eliminate
alcohol? - ANSWER On average, the body will eliminate approximately one (1) standard
drink per hour. This is a constant rate, both during and after drinking.
4. Can dancing or any other physical activity help the body to eliminate alcohol? -
ANSWER Physical activity does not eliminate alcohol from the blood stream. It may cause
a person to perspire, but perspiration, urination, and respiration only eliminates ten percent
(10%) of the alcohol consumed. The body eliminates approximately one (1) standard drink
an hour, so time is the only thing that sobers up a person.
5. What is visible intoxication? - ANSWER Visible intoxication is defined as the level of
impairment that any person can detect by noticing the various obvious visible signs of
intoxication.
6. What are some factors that determine whether someone will show signs of visible
intoxication? - ANSWER Some of the factors that affect whether a person will exhibit
signs of visible intoxication are: tolerance, health, food intake, emotional state, and the rate
and amount of alcohol consumed.
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, 7. What determines if someone is visibly intoxicated? - ANSWER If it is apparent that the
person's behavior, judgment, and coordination have diminished, then the person may be
considered visibly intoxicated.
8. What are some of the signs of visible intoxication? - ANSWER Some examples of the
signs of visible intoxication that a server should notice can include: glassy or bloodshot eyes,
loud or slurred speech, lack of coordination or concentration, spilling a drink, staggered
walk, etc.
9. What is legal intoxication? - ANSWER Legal intoxication under the motor vehicle code
is an objective measurement of blood alcohol content ("BAC").
10. How is legal intoxication determined? - ANSWER Legal intoxication is determined by
performing a blood, breath, or urine test.
11. Can a server determine if a patron is legally intoxicated? - ANSWER No. A server can
only detect visible intoxication.
12. What is the correlation between visible and legal intoxication? - ANSWER There is no
correlation between the two. Visible intoxication can occur at either a high or low BAC.
13. What are some factors that affect legal intoxication? - ANSWER Some of the factors
that affect legal intoxication are: weight, gender, health, food intake, and the rate and
amount of alcohol consumed.
14. Can a server serve an alcoholic beverage to a visibly intoxicated person? - ANSWER
No. A licensee and its employees are prohibited by the Liquor Code from serving or
permitting to be furnished, alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated person.
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alcoholic beverage is twelve (12) fluid ounces of malt or brewed beverage, four (4) fluid
ounces of wine (including fortified wine), or one and one-half (1½) fluid ounces of spirits. [40
Pa. Code § 13.201].
2. What is the difference between light beer and regular beer? - ANSWER The main
difference between light and regular beer is calories. Light beer has fewer calories than
regular beer.
3. How many drinks can the body eliminate per hour? At what rate does the body eliminate
alcohol? - ANSWER On average, the body will eliminate approximately one (1) standard
drink per hour. This is a constant rate, both during and after drinking.
4. Can dancing or any other physical activity help the body to eliminate alcohol? -
ANSWER Physical activity does not eliminate alcohol from the blood stream. It may cause
a person to perspire, but perspiration, urination, and respiration only eliminates ten percent
(10%) of the alcohol consumed. The body eliminates approximately one (1) standard drink
an hour, so time is the only thing that sobers up a person.
5. What is visible intoxication? - ANSWER Visible intoxication is defined as the level of
impairment that any person can detect by noticing the various obvious visible signs of
intoxication.
6. What are some factors that determine whether someone will show signs of visible
intoxication? - ANSWER Some of the factors that affect whether a person will exhibit
signs of visible intoxication are: tolerance, health, food intake, emotional state, and the rate
and amount of alcohol consumed.
1
, 7. What determines if someone is visibly intoxicated? - ANSWER If it is apparent that the
person's behavior, judgment, and coordination have diminished, then the person may be
considered visibly intoxicated.
8. What are some of the signs of visible intoxication? - ANSWER Some examples of the
signs of visible intoxication that a server should notice can include: glassy or bloodshot eyes,
loud or slurred speech, lack of coordination or concentration, spilling a drink, staggered
walk, etc.
9. What is legal intoxication? - ANSWER Legal intoxication under the motor vehicle code
is an objective measurement of blood alcohol content ("BAC").
10. How is legal intoxication determined? - ANSWER Legal intoxication is determined by
performing a blood, breath, or urine test.
11. Can a server determine if a patron is legally intoxicated? - ANSWER No. A server can
only detect visible intoxication.
12. What is the correlation between visible and legal intoxication? - ANSWER There is no
correlation between the two. Visible intoxication can occur at either a high or low BAC.
13. What are some factors that affect legal intoxication? - ANSWER Some of the factors
that affect legal intoxication are: weight, gender, health, food intake, and the rate and
amount of alcohol consumed.
14. Can a server serve an alcoholic beverage to a visibly intoxicated person? - ANSWER
No. A licensee and its employees are prohibited by the Liquor Code from serving or
permitting to be furnished, alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated person.
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