How should you approach a request for a 'courtesy drink' from a patron who appears intoxicated?

How should you approach a request for a 'courtesy drink' from a patron who appears intoxicated?

• A. Politely refuse and refer them to non-alcoholic options, explaining policy.
• B. Offer them an extra shot to 'level out'
• C. Continue to serve as normal
• D. Ignore the request

Answer: (A)

Prioritizing safety and policy compliance when a patron who appears intoxicated asks for more alcohol. The best approach is to politely refuse and explain the establishment’s policy: alcohol cannot be served to someone who is intoxicated. Then offer non-alcoholic options such as water, juice, soda, or a mocktail, and consider providing food to help slow absorption. This protects the patron and others from the risks of further impairment and aligns with Responsible Beverage Service standards. If the situation escalates or the patron persists, involve a supervisor and ensure service is stopped as needed. Why the other options don’t fit: offering an extra shot would increase impairment and violate policy and safety standards; continuing to serve as normal ignores the safety risk; ignoring the request fails to address the policy and safety concern.

Prioritizing safety and policy compliance when a patron who appears intoxicated asks for more alcohol.

The best approach is to politely refuse and explain the establishment’s policy: alcohol cannot be served to someone who is intoxicated. Then offer non-alcoholic options such as water, juice, soda, or a mocktail, and consider providing food to help slow absorption. This protects the patron and others from the risks of further impairment and aligns with Responsible Beverage Service standards. If the situation escalates or the patron persists, involve a supervisor and ensure service is stopped as needed.

Why the other options don’t fit: offering an extra shot would increase impairment and violate policy and safety standards; continuing to serve as normal ignores the safety risk; ignoring the request fails to address the policy and safety concern.