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Alcohol Server · Handling Difficult Situations

A patron who has been cut off asks a friend to order for them. Staff should:

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Recognize this as an attempt to circumvent the cutoff and decline to serve the cut-off patron through others

  1. A Recognize this as an attempt to circumvent the cutoff and decline to serve the cut-off patron through others
  2. B Allow it
  3. C Serve the friend a double
  4. D Ignore the request

Why this is the answer

When a patron who has been cut off tries to obtain alcohol by having a friend order for them, staff should recognize this as an attempt to circumvent the responsible-service decision and decline to serve alcohol that is clearly intended for the cut-off (intoxicated) person. Allowing the workaround would amount to continuing to over-serve an intoxicated patron, with the same legal and safety risks. Staff and managers should be alert to these tactics and hold the line on the cutoff. Communicating the situation among the team helps ensure everyone enforces it consistently.
Source: Responsible Beverage Service — Circumventing a Cutoff

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About this topic: Handling Difficult Situations

Managers are tested on the escalation path for difficult situations: an intoxicated patron who will not leave, a fake ID, a fight, or a staff member who over-serves. The right answer is almost always the calm, documented, lawful option rather than the fastest one. This is one of 12 On-Premise / Manager questions on handling difficult situations, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our Alcohol Server exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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