# Intoxication and refusing service: practice quiz > Practise Smart Serve intoxication questions: signs of intoxication, standard drinks, BAC factors and how to stop serving a guest, with explanations. Canonical: https://smartservepracticetest.ca/practice/intoxication Last updated: 2026-10-26 Questions on recognizing intoxication, standard drinks, what affects blood alcohol, and what to do when a guest has had enough. Each answer explains the rule from Ontario law or AGCO guidance. This page has an interactive practice test (Smart Serve practice test): a random draw from 128 questions, pass mark 80%. Every question and answer is listed below. ## The rules in 30 seconds - You must not sell or serve liquor to anyone who **is or appears to be intoxicated** (Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, s. 32). - Watch for clusters of signs: speech, coordination, alertness, eyes, tiredness. One sign alone doesn’t confirm it. - First signs: slow things down with food, water and low- or no-alcohol drinks. Several signs: stop serving and make sure they get home safely. - One Canadian standard drink is **17.05 mL of pure alcohol**: 341 mL of 5% beer, 142 mL of 12% wine or 43 mL of 40% spirits. Read the full guides: [signs of intoxication](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/signs-of-intoxication) and [the BAC chart explained](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/bac-chart). ## Study every question ### Alcohol, intoxication and refusing service (31) **A guest shows one possible sign of intoxication. What does the AGCO say about one sign?** A. One sign alone doesn’t confirm it: keep watching for others B. One sign means you must refuse service C. One sign means call the police D. Signs don’t matter if the guest is calm Answer: A. Signs appear in any order or in clusters, and one sign alone doesn’t confirm intoxication. Watch closely. **Which of these is a speech sign of intoxication?** A. Speaking a second language B. Asking for the menu twice C. Slurring or running words together D. Talking about sports Answer: C. Slurred speech, unusual loudness or softness, and speech that is too fast or too slow are all signs the AGCO lists. **A guest keeps dropping coins and fumbling with their phone. This is a sign of…** A. Nervousness, nothing more B. Being left-handed C. Reduced fine motor control D. Normal behaviour Answer: C. Fumbling with money, phones or paper and misjudging distances are signs of reduced fine motor control. **Swaying, stumbling and bumping into furniture are signs of…** A. Reduced gross motor control B. Good mood C. Tiredness from work only D. Low blood sugar only Answer: A. Trouble standing or walking straight, swaying and holding arms out for balance show reduced gross motor control. **A guest takes a long time to answer and you have to repeat simple questions. This suggests…** A. Shyness B. Lowered alertness, a sign of intoxication C. A noisy room only D. Good manners Answer: B. Slow responses, trouble following conversation and confusion are alertness signs on the AGCO list. **Besides bloodshot eyes, what eye sign may point to cannabis intoxication?** A. Wearing glasses B. Blinking normally C. Watery eyes from allergies D. Eyelid tremors or dilated pupils Answer: D. The AGCO notes bloodshot eyes for both, and that cannabis may also cause eyelid tremors or dilated pupils. **Why might an intoxicated guest look drowsy, with a fixed or glassy gaze?** A. Alcohol is a stimulant B. Alcohol and cannabis are depressants C. They are bored D. It’s a sign they’re sobering up Answer: B. Both alcohol and cannabis are depressants, so tiredness, heavy eyelids and a glassy stare are common signs. **A guest tells you they used cannabis before arriving. Why does that matter for service?** A. It doesn’t: only alcohol counts B. It means they can drink more C. Cannabis can add to intoxication and its signs look like alcohol’s D. It makes them immune to alcohol Answer: C. The AGCO says to ask whether guests have been drinking or using cannabis elsewhere. Both affect the same signs you watch for. **A guest shows the first signs of intoxication. What should you do?** A. Keep watching and offer food, water or low- or no-alcohol drinks B. Cut them off immediately and call police C. Serve them a double to finish faster D. Ignore it until closing Answer: A. At initial signs, monitor the guest and slow their drinking with food, water and lower- or non-alcoholic options. **A guest shows several clear signs of intoxication. What does the AGCO say to do?** A. Serve one last drink, then stop B. Switch them to spirits C. Ask them to pay and keep serving D. Stop serving alcohol and make sure they have a safe way home Answer: D. With multiple signs, serve no more alcohol under any circumstances, manage the situation, make sure they get home safely and call police if needed. **How does food help when guests are drinking?** A. It removes alcohol from the blood B. It has no effect C. It slows alcohol absorption and tends to slow drinking D. It makes drinks stronger Answer: C. Food slows the absorption of alcohol and usually slows the pace of drinking. **Which question can help you judge whether to keep serving a guest?** A. Have you eaten, or been drinking somewhere else tonight? B. What do you do for work? C. Is this your first time here? D. Do you like the music? Answer: A. The AGCO suggests asking guests whether they’ve eaten or have been drinking or using cannabis elsewhere. **A guest arrives at the door already showing signs of intoxication. What should door staff do?** A. Let them in but don’t serve them B. Refuse entry C. Let them in with a friend D. Let them in for food Answer: B. The AGCO says to train door staff to recognize intoxication and refuse entry to anyone who appears intoxicated. **Under O. Reg. 746/21, the licensee must not permit intoxication…** A. Only inside the bar area B. Only after 11 p.m. C. Only among regular customers D. On the premises or in adjacent areas it controls Answer: D. The licensee must not permit intoxication, unlawful gambling or disorderly conduct on the premises or in adjacent areas under its exclusive control. **How much pure alcohol is in one standard drink in Canada?** A. 10 mL (8 g) B. 17.05 mL (13.45 g) C. 25 mL (20 g) D. 30 mL (24 g) Answer: B. A Canadian standard drink contains 17.05 mL, or 13.45 g, of pure alcohol. **Which of these is one standard drink?** A. 341 mL (12 oz) of 5% beer B. 473 mL (16 oz) of 5% beer C. 341 mL (12 oz) of 8% beer D. A 710 mL pitcher of 5% beer Answer: A. One standard drink is a 341 mL bottle of beer or cider at 5% alcohol. **One standard drink of 12% wine is about…** A. 75 mL (2.5 oz) B. 142 mL (5 oz) C. 200 mL (7 oz) D. 250 mL (8.5 oz) Answer: B. A 142 mL (5 oz) glass of 12% wine is one standard drink. **One standard drink of 40% spirits is about…** A. 29 mL (1 oz) B. 43 mL (1.5 oz) C. 60 mL (2 oz) D. 85 mL (3 oz) Answer: B. A 43 mL (1.5 oz) shot of 40% spirits is one standard drink. **A double of 40% spirits (86 mL, about 3 oz) counts as how many standard drinks?** A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 Answer: B. One standard drink of 40% spirits is 43 mL, so 86 mL is two. **About how many standard drinks are in a 473 mL can of 5% beer?** A. Exactly 1 B. About 2 C. About 3 D. About 1.4 Answer: D. 473 mL × 5% = about 23.7 mL of pure alcohol. Divided by 17.05 mL per standard drink, that’s about 1.4. **Compared with a 341 mL bottle of 5% beer, a 341 mL bottle of 10% beer has…** A. The same alcohol B. Half the alcohol C. About twice the alcohol D. About ten times the alcohol Answer: C. Alcohol content scales with strength: same volume at double the percentage means double the pure alcohol, about two standard drinks. **The Smart Serve BAC chart assumes the body clears alcohol at about what rate?** A. About three drinks per hour B. About one drink every 10 minutes C. About one drink per day D. About one standard drink per hour Answer: D. The chart assumes roughly one standard drink processed per hour, and notes real rates vary from person to person. **Which of these is NOT a factor that affects blood alcohol concentration?** A. Body size and body fat B. Food in the stomach C. The colour of the drink D. Medications and other drugs Answer: C. Smart Serve lists factors such as body size, body fat, food, medications and other drugs, metabolism, health, hydration and fitness. The colour of a drink isn’t one. **An intoxicated guest asks for “one more for the road.” What do you do?** A. Refuse, offer a non-alcoholic drink and help arrange a safe ride B. Serve a small one C. Serve it if they promise to take a cab D. Serve it because they’re leaving Answer: A. You can’t serve someone who is or appears intoxicated, whatever their plans. Help them get home safely instead. **What does the AGCO recommend managers tell staff about refusing service?** A. They need a manager’s approval first B. They should avoid refusing service C. They’ll be charged for lost sales D. Management will back them when they refuse service to minors or intoxicated guests Answer: D. The AGCO recommends written house policies and telling staff management will support them when they refuse service. **Which house policy does the AGCO recommend to discourage intoxication?** A. Sell drinks in pitchers only B. Offer free shots at last call C. Limit the number of drinks sold to one person at a time D. Let guests pour their own Answer: C. The AGCO suggests limiting drinks sold to one person at a time and discouraging drinking games. **What does the AGCO recommend about staff drinking on the job?** A. Prohibit it for all staff and managers B. Allow one drink per shift C. Allow it after midnight D. Allow it for managers only Answer: A. The AGCO’s house policy sheet recommends prohibiting drinking on the job for all staff and managers. **You’re delivering beer and the customer at the door is slurring and swaying. What do you do?** A. Don’t hand over the liquor B. Deliver it: it was paid for C. Leave it on the step D. Give it to them with a warning Answer: A. Delivered liquor may go only to a person who does not appear to be intoxicated. **Which practice does the AGCO suggest to help prevent intoxication?** A. Hide the non-alcoholic menu B. Charge more for water C. Serve doubles by default D. Promote low- and non-alcoholic drinks and price them competitively Answer: D. Offering and promoting appealing low- and non-alcoholic options at good prices helps guests pace themselves. **Under Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (2023), how many drinks a week is “low risk”?** A. 1 to 2 B. 3 to 6 C. 7 to 10 D. 10 to 15 Answer: A. The 2023 guidance sets low risk at 1–2 standard drinks a week, moderate at 3–6 and increasingly high at 7 or more. **For bottle service areas, what does the AGCO suggest?** A. No rules, since guests paid for the bottle B. Letting guests take bottles home open C. A separate policy, such as pour spouts and staff or security nearby D. Serving bottles only after 1 a.m. Answer: C. The AGCO suggests a separate bottle-service policy: pour spouts, staff or security nearby and removing bottles if guests don’t comply. ## Questions people ask ### How many signs of intoxication before you stop serving? The AGCO describes a staged approach: at first signs, monitor and offer food, water and lower-alcohol drinks; with multiple signs, stop serving alcohol entirely. The legal line is “is or appears to be intoxicated”. ## Sources - [Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19l15b) (checked 2026-10-26) - [AGCO: Information sheet, recognizing intoxication](https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/information-sheet-recognizing-intoxication) (checked 2026-10-26) - [AGCO: Information sheet, house policies](https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/information-sheet-house-policies) (checked 2026-10-26) - [Health Canada: Low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines (standard drink)](https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/alcohol/low-risk-alcohol-drinking-guidelines.html) (checked 2026-10-26) - [Smart Serve Ontario: BAC Chart](https://smartserve.ca/bac-chart/) (checked 2026-10-26) Not affiliated with Smart Serve Ontario or the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). ## Related - [Signs of intoxication](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/signs-of-intoxication) - [BAC and standard drinks, explained](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/bac-chart) - [Smart Serve practice test](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/smart-serve-practice-test) - [Checking ID and minors: practice quiz](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/practice/checking-id)