ServSafe Alcohol Certification Exam Flashcards
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Name common signs that a guest may be intoxicated.
Slurred speech, impaired balance, glassy or bloodshot eyes, and lowered inhibitions or aggressive behavior.
What are dram shop laws?
Laws under which an establishment can be held legally liable for injuries caused by a patron it served while visibly intoxicated or who was a minor.
Can coffee, food, or water sober up an intoxicated guest?
No. Food and water can be offered, but only time actually reduces a person's blood alcohol concentration.
A guest shows signs of intoxication and orders another drink. What should the server do?
Stop alcohol service. Continuing to serve a visibly intoxicated patron exposes the establishment to dram shop liability, and offering food or water won't lower their BAC — only time does.
Why is checking that an ID is unexpired important, not just checking the photo and birthdate?
An expired ID is not acceptable ID for alcohol service; serving a minor exposes the establishment to dram shop liability.
A patron's eyes are glassy and their balance is impaired, but their speech sounds normal. Are they showing signs of intoxication?
Yes. Glassy or bloodshot eyes and impaired balance are recognized signs of intoxication on their own — no single sign is required.
After passing the ServSafe Alcohol exam, when should you plan to recertify?
Before the three-year recognition period ends.
On a 40-question exam requiring 75% to pass, how many wrong answers can you afford?
Up to 10. You need 30 of 40 correct (75%), so 10 incorrect is the maximum.
Is a passport acceptable ID for alcohol service?
Yes, if it is valid and unexpired — a passport is a government-issued photo ID, along with a driver's license, state ID card, or military ID.
True or false: serving one more drink is fine as long as you cut the guest off after that.
False. If the guest is visibly intoxicated, that additional drink can itself create dram shop liability for injuries the patron later causes.
What is the server's role when a guest hands over an ID?
Confirm it is a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID before serving; an unacceptable or expired ID means no alcohol service.
How many questions are on the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam, and how many must you answer correctly to pass?
40 questions; you must answer at least 30 correctly.
What is the passing score for the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam?
75 percent.
How long is a ServSafe Alcohol certification recognized?
For a three-year period.
What counts as acceptable ID when checking a customer's age?
A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.
Name common signs that a guest is intoxicated.
Slurred speech, impaired balance, glassy or bloodshot eyes, and lowered inhibitions or aggressive behavior.
What are dram shop laws?
Laws under which an establishment can be held legally liable for injuries caused by a patron who was served while visibly intoxicated or who was a minor.
Can coffee, food, or water sober up an intoxicated guest?
No. Servers can offer food and water, but only the passage of time reduces a person's blood alcohol concentration.
Why should a server stop serving a guest who is already intoxicated instead of waiting?
Because nothing but time lowers BAC, so more drinks only raise it — and serving a visibly intoxicated patron exposes the establishment to dram shop liability.
If a customer presents an expired driver's license, is it acceptable ID for alcohol service?
No. Acceptable ID must be unexpired, so an expired license does not qualify.
What is the temperature danger zone for food?
41°F to 135°F — the range in which pathogens grow most rapidly.
At what temperatures must hot and cold TCS food be held?
Hot TCS food at 135°F or higher; cold TCS food at 41°F or lower.
How long and at what temperature must you wash your hands?
At a designated handwashing sink for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm running water.
When must a food handler be excluded from working with food?
When they have vomiting, diarrhea, or jaundice, or are diagnosed with Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Hepatitis A, or Norovirus.
How is cross-contamination prevented?
By separating raw and ready-to-eat foods, using separate equipment, and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.
What are the major food allergens (the "Big Nine")?
Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame.
How many questions are on the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam, and how many must you answer correctly to pass?
40 questions; you must answer at least 30 correctly.
What is the passing score for the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam?
75%.
How long is the ServSafe Alcohol certification recognized?
Three years.
What counts as acceptable ID for alcohol service?
A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.
How many questions are on the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam, and how many must you answer correctly to pass?
40 questions; you must answer at least 30 correctly.
What is the passing score for the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam?
75%.
How long is the ServSafe Alcohol certification recognized before it expires?
Three years.
What counts as acceptable ID when checking a guest's age?
A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID — such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.
Name common physical signs that a guest may be intoxicated.
Slurred speech, impaired balance, glassy or bloodshot eyes, and lowered inhibitions or aggressive behavior.
What are dram shop laws?
Laws under which an establishment can be held legally liable for injuries caused by a patron who was served while visibly intoxicated or who was a minor.
Can coffee, food, or water sober up an intoxicated guest?
No — servers can offer food and water, but only time reduces a person's blood alcohol concentration.
Why should a server stop serving a visibly intoxicated guest rather than serve one more drink?
Because more time is the only thing that lowers BAC and continued service can expose the establishment to dram shop liability, so cutting off service is the responsible and legally protective choice.
An unexpired passport is shown but the photo doesn't clearly match the guest. Is the ID acceptable?
No — acceptable ID must be valid and genuinely identify the holder; a photo that doesn't match should be refused even if the document is unexpired.
What is the temperature danger zone for food?
41°F to 135°F — the range in which pathogens grow most rapidly.
At what temperatures must hot and cold TCS food be held?
Hot TCS food at 135°F or higher; cold TCS food at 41°F or lower.
How long may TCS food stay in the temperature danger zone before it must be discarded?
No more than four hours total; food held longer must be thrown out.
What are the correct handwashing requirements for food handlers?
Use a designated handwashing sink for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm running water.
When must a food handler be excluded from working with food?
When they have vomiting, diarrhea, or jaundice, or are diagnosed with Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, Hepatitis A, or Norovirus.
Name the major food allergens (the "Big Nine").
Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame.