When you work in the hospitality industry in a role requiring you to serve alcohol to the general public, you have a critical job to do. While it’s necessary for you to provide exceptional service and make all patrons feel welcome, you must also ensure you’re not serving alcohol to anyone who is intoxicated. Identifying intoxication is not an easy task, but you might find it much easier when you’re aware of the following signs.
Changes in Speech
When you undertake a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training course with course providers like Galaxy Training Australia, you learn about speech changes being one of the most obvious signs of intoxication.
When you’re serving patrons who appear to have incoherent or muddled speech, this can typically be an obvious sign of intoxication. Their level of inebriation might also become more apparent if they slur their words, lose their train of thought easily, and hold unintelligible conversations. In this situation, it’s essential to refuse alcohol service and encourage non-alcoholic beverages or a ride home instead.
Issues With Balance
Several medical conditions can cause balance problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. However, balance problems can also be a sign of intoxication. If your patron can’t walk straight, is staggering, stumbling, and swaying, or they’re bumping into things or even falling down, they might be intoxicated. You can make a judgment call to identify them as unduly drunk and refuse service.
A Lack of Coordination
Alcohol affects a neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA, which turns off select brain cells. As a result, you can feel sluggish and lose coordination. People under the influence of alcohol might have difficulty counting out the money to buy a beverage, drop their drink, fail to put it up to their mouth accurately, or spill it. If you’re unsure whether a patron is intoxicated, take note of how they attempt to pay for their drink. That process alone might tell you all you need to know to make an informed decision.
Their Behavior Is Unacceptable
Most bars, restaurants, and general dining establishments have a set of rules they expect their patrons to follow so that everyone can enjoy their environment. Some drunk patrons can be loud, rude, bad-tempered, and aggressive. They might also be more annoying than when they’re sober, disorderly, and overly friendly. If you notice disturbing behavior that limits other patrons’ abilities to enjoy their time in your establishment, it might be time to refuse service. These can all be signs of intoxication.
They Appear Drunk
Actions can be one of the most effective ways to identify intoxication, but some people can also appear drunk. A sober person is typically tidy and alert with clear eyes, while an intoxicated person might have a vacant or blank expression. They might also smell like alcohol, appear untidy, and have glazed and bloodshot eyes.
As someone who works in the hospitality industry, you likely want all your patrons to enjoy themselves in your bar or restaurant. However, intoxication isn’t necessary for this to happen. If you identify any of the signs above in people attempting to purchase alcohol, it might be time to refuse service and encourage them to go home.
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