If a guest is intoxicated and cannot be served responsibly, what should you do?

• A. Refuse service and arrange safe transportation, offer non-alcoholic options.
• B. Continue serving but at a slower pace.
• C. Encourage them to drink water while continuing to serve alcohol.
• D. Ignore the situation and leave them.

Answer: (A)

When someone is intoxicated, the priority is safety: do not serve more alcohol and help them get home safely. The best approach is to refuse service and offer non-alcoholic options, then arrange safe transportation such as a taxi, rideshare, or a designated driver. This protects the guest from harm, reduces the risk of accidents or other incidents, and aligns with responsible beverage service practices.

Continuing to serve, even at a slower pace, still enables further intoxication and increases risk. Encouraging water while still serving alcohol keeps alcohol flowing and doesn’t address the safety issue. Ignoring the situation is dangerous and could put the guest and others at risk.