Columbia Bartending Exam Questions And
Answers
The Dram Shop Act
The bar and the bartender is held liable if they serve an underage person or someone who is too
intoxicated and if they pose a danger to others, themselves, or commit a crime.
Standard Drink (General)
14 grams of pure alcohol (.5 fluid ounces)
Standard Drink (Beer)
12 oz
4-5% alcohol
Malt liquors and craft brews tend to have higher percentage.
Standard Drink (Liquor)
1.5 oz shot
Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey
Standard Drink (Wine)
5 oz glass
9 - 14% alcohol (most table wines)
Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
How much of the liquor is comprised of alcohol, and is expressed as a percentage (%).
Proof
Twice the ABV (% x 2). Expressed as just a number.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Amount of alcohol in the bloodstream measured as a percentage. BAC of 1 percent means a person
has 10 parts alcohol per 1,000 parts blood in the body. Legal driving limit is a BAC of .08.
Factors that Affect BAC
1. Size - referring to musculature since muscle is what metabolizes alcohol.
2. Rate of Consumption - drinks per hour or how fast you drink it.
3. Strength of the Drink - not every drink is a standard drink and carbonated drinks can push alcohol
into your bloodstream.
4. Food - eating before or during can help slow the rate of absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
5. Gender - women tend to have less muscle and less of a digestive enzyme that breaks down alcohol.
6. Drug Use
Extra Factors that Affect BAC
Asian Descent - 50% of people of Asian descent have a liver enzyme used to process alcohol that is
inactive.
Age - very young people or very old people.
, Behavioral Cues of Intoxication (JIRC)
Loss of Judgment
Loss of Inhibitions
Slowed Reactions
Loss of Coordination
Speed Rack ("Wells'')
Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Triple Sec, Whiskey, Bourbon
Speed Racks can vary by bar but they will follow the order of the most commonly used alcohols,
lightest to darkest, and the order will always be maintained.
Free Pouring
An inverted bottle will pour about one ounce per second when using a pour topper. (One - one - thou
- sandth)
Highballs
Two-thirds ice
1.5 oz liquor
Fill it up (4-6oz) with mixer and stir if it is a juice (if it is a carbonated drink you let the customer mix it
himself)
1:4 :: liquor:mixer
Highball Glass (narrow and holds 8 - 12 oz)
Screwdriver
1.5 oz Vodka
Fill with Orange Juice
Greyhound
1.5 oz Vodka
Fill with Grapefruit Juice
Salty Dog
Greyhound with Salted Rim
Orange Blossom (aka Gin and Juice)
1.5 oz Gin
Fill with Orange Juice
Cuba Libre
1.5 oz Rum
Fill with Coke
Splash of fresh lime juice
Garnish with a lime
Sex on the Beach
3/4 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Peach Schnapps
Answers
The Dram Shop Act
The bar and the bartender is held liable if they serve an underage person or someone who is too
intoxicated and if they pose a danger to others, themselves, or commit a crime.
Standard Drink (General)
14 grams of pure alcohol (.5 fluid ounces)
Standard Drink (Beer)
12 oz
4-5% alcohol
Malt liquors and craft brews tend to have higher percentage.
Standard Drink (Liquor)
1.5 oz shot
Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey
Standard Drink (Wine)
5 oz glass
9 - 14% alcohol (most table wines)
Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
How much of the liquor is comprised of alcohol, and is expressed as a percentage (%).
Proof
Twice the ABV (% x 2). Expressed as just a number.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Amount of alcohol in the bloodstream measured as a percentage. BAC of 1 percent means a person
has 10 parts alcohol per 1,000 parts blood in the body. Legal driving limit is a BAC of .08.
Factors that Affect BAC
1. Size - referring to musculature since muscle is what metabolizes alcohol.
2. Rate of Consumption - drinks per hour or how fast you drink it.
3. Strength of the Drink - not every drink is a standard drink and carbonated drinks can push alcohol
into your bloodstream.
4. Food - eating before or during can help slow the rate of absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
5. Gender - women tend to have less muscle and less of a digestive enzyme that breaks down alcohol.
6. Drug Use
Extra Factors that Affect BAC
Asian Descent - 50% of people of Asian descent have a liver enzyme used to process alcohol that is
inactive.
Age - very young people or very old people.
, Behavioral Cues of Intoxication (JIRC)
Loss of Judgment
Loss of Inhibitions
Slowed Reactions
Loss of Coordination
Speed Rack ("Wells'')
Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Triple Sec, Whiskey, Bourbon
Speed Racks can vary by bar but they will follow the order of the most commonly used alcohols,
lightest to darkest, and the order will always be maintained.
Free Pouring
An inverted bottle will pour about one ounce per second when using a pour topper. (One - one - thou
- sandth)
Highballs
Two-thirds ice
1.5 oz liquor
Fill it up (4-6oz) with mixer and stir if it is a juice (if it is a carbonated drink you let the customer mix it
himself)
1:4 :: liquor:mixer
Highball Glass (narrow and holds 8 - 12 oz)
Screwdriver
1.5 oz Vodka
Fill with Orange Juice
Greyhound
1.5 oz Vodka
Fill with Grapefruit Juice
Salty Dog
Greyhound with Salted Rim
Orange Blossom (aka Gin and Juice)
1.5 oz Gin
Fill with Orange Juice
Cuba Libre
1.5 oz Rum
Fill with Coke
Splash of fresh lime juice
Garnish with a lime
Sex on the Beach
3/4 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Peach Schnapps
