For those working within a premise that sells and/or serves liquor, it is important to know how to recognise signs of intoxication. Knowing how to recognise these signs can help to keep patrons and staff safe. Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) courses educate attendees on how to identify signs of intoxication and act accordingly. Find out more about what RSA certificates are here. In today�s blog, we take a look at some of the signs that can indicate a patron may be unduly intoxicated. Please keep in mind that this blog is a rough guide, and for an acknowledged understanding of the topic you must complete a relevant RSA from a Registered Training Organisation. Signs of intoxication�As a bartender, it is against the law to sell, supply, or allow liquor to be supplied to a patron who is disorderly or unduly intoxicated. This law falls under the Liquor Act 1992. According to the Queensland Liquor Act 1992, a person may be taken to be unduly intoxicated if:
While it can be relatively easy to identify a disorderly patron, identifying a person who is unduly intoxicated may prove a bit more difficult at times. An RSA course can help you to become further educated on intoxication signs, along with providing other vital information such as drink sizes and measurements. It is important to complete an RSA before commencing work as a server of alcohol in a licensed venue. There are several indicators that can give cause for you to believe a patron may be intoxicated. The Business Queensland website provides a good resource for assessing unduly intoxication. Before making a decision, it is important to assess if other causes could be contributing to these signs. It is unlawful to discriminate against a patron with mental or physical impairments. When looking for signs of alcohol intoxication, assess the following: SpeechIs the patron easy to understand, or is their speech incoherent and muddled? Is the patron slurring their words? An intoxicated person may be rambling or making unintelligible conversation. They may also lose their train of thought mid-sentence. BehaviourA patron who is unduly intoxicated may be acting in an unacceptable or inappropriate manner. The behaviour of an intoxicated person can vary and could include actions such as aggression, sleeping at a bar or table, or vomiting. Other behaviour can include (but is not limited to) confusion, argumentativeness, belligerence, offensive language, or being boisterous or loud. BalanceIf somebody is struggling with balance, it could be a sign that they are intoxicated. Indicators can include uncontrollable swaying, falling down, difficulty with walking straight, stumbling, staggering, being unsteady on their feet, or bumping into furniture or people CoordinationSigns of intoxication can include the spilling or dropping of drinks, or a patron struggling to find their mouth with a drinking glass. An intoxicated patron may also have difficulty opening and closing doors, or with counting money and paying for purchases (including fumbling change). As mentioned above, it is imperative to work out whether other factors could be causing signs of intoxication. Having a conversation with the patron in question about the possible reasons for their intoxication signs can assist you in fulfilling your obligations as stated in the Liquor Act. Do you wish to learn more about serving alcohol, and to become qualified to work within the liquor industry? Express Online Training offers fully-accredited RSA certificates. We provide online RSA courses for all states and territories, allowing you to complete your course from the comfort of your own home! Alcohol intoxication refers to a temporary condition that occurs when a person drinks an excess of alcohol at one time. Alcohol intoxication causes physical and behavioral symptoms that range from mild to severe. Severe alcohol intoxication — or alcohol poisoning — is a dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention. Although people can safely consume alcohol without experiencing immediate adverse health effects, long term alcohol consumption can jeopardize overall health. The Department of Health and Human Services classifies alcohol as a carcinogen, a substance that plays a role in causing cancer. The medical community has linked alcohol with numerous types of cancer, such as cancers of the mouth, larynx, and esophagus. Keep reading to learn more about alcohol intoxication, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Alcohol intoxication occurs when a person drinks an excess of alcohol in one period. A standard serving of alcohol in the United States is 0.6 fluid ounces (fl oz) or 14 grams (g) of pure alcohol. This translates to the following single servings of standard alcoholic drinks:
The liver removes alcohol from the bloodstream, but it can only filter out so much at once. The rate at which the body metabolizes alcohol varies from person to person, depending on factors such as:
When a person drinks more alcohol than their liver can process, ethanol molecules start accumulating in the body. This can damage tissue cells and organs. The symptoms of alcohol intoxication range from mild to severe, depending on how much alcohol a person consumes and how quickly their body metabolizes it. These symptoms often occur in stages, depending on how intoxicated a person is. The table below shows common symptoms at each level of alcohol intoxication. This data comes from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It includes information about blood alcohol concentration or content (BAC) — a common way to measure intoxication for medical or legal purposes. BAC refers to how much alcohol is in the bloodstream.
People can get individualized BAC estimates using this calculator. In every U.S. state, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of over 0.08%. A person who drives with a higher BAC is at risk of arrest. In alcoholic drinks, a chemical compound called ethanol is responsible for the symptoms associated with intoxication. Numerous commercial and household products, such as mouthwash, perfume, and gasoline, also contain ethanol. When a person drinks alcohol, ethanol passes through the digestive system and enters the bloodstream through the linings of the stomach and intestines. If an individual drinks alcohol on an empty stomach, their BAC usually peaks within 30–90 minutes. Once ethanol is inside the bloodstream, it can travel throughout the body, affecting various functions. Ethanol interferes with the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid. This amino acid, often called GABA, reduces central nervous system activity. Ethanol also increases levels of adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. People may feel euphoric while drinking alcohol because ethanol stimulates the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical in the brain. This effect on the brain’s dopamine system can lead to alcohol dependence. Alcohol also interferes with several other bodily functions, such as:
Learn more about the short- and long-term effects of alcohol consumption here. A person can usually tell when they are intoxicated, but it may be challenging to spot the signs in others. To gauge another person’s level of intoxication, try looking for the following signs:
Learn more about alcohol and brain damage here. People cannot treat severe alcohol intoxication — or alcohol poisoning — at home. If anyone shows signs of severe intoxication, contact emergency services immediately. In the U.S., call 911. Follow these steps while waiting for professional assistance:
In the emergency room, a doctor will check their BAC and look for other signs of alcohol poisoning, such as a slow heart rate and low blood sugar and electrolyte levels. A healthcare professional will monitor the person’s vital signs while they recover. The doctor or nurse may also:
Alcohol intoxication occurs when a person drinks an excess of alcohol in a short period. A low level of alcohol intoxication causes mild symptoms, while severe intoxication, or alcohol poisoning, can be life threatening. It requires immediate medical attention. People can survive alcohol poisoning if they receive appropriate treatment. However, recovery sometimes takes several weeks or months. |