TABC Alcohol Seller-Server — All Questions

A patron shows no obvious physical signs yet, but you have personally served them six standard drinks in about 90 minutes. What is the responsible interpretation?

• a.Drink count is meaningless
• b.They must be sober since they look fine
• c.You should serve faster to finish the tab
• d.Their consumption strongly suggests rising intoxication, so service should slow or stop even before dramatic signs appear✓

Six standard drinks in 90 minutes far exceeds the roughly one-per-hour the body can process, so intoxication is almost certainly building. Tracking consumption alongside observed signs gives an earlier warning than waiting for stumbling. A prudent server slows or stops service at this point.

A patron arrives already smelling of alcohol, unsteady on their feet, and slurring before ordering anything. What should the seller-server do?

• a.Serve one drink since they haven't had anything here yet
• b.Refuse alcohol service, because the patron already shows clear signs of intoxication✓
• c.Serve them but keep an eye on them
• d.Wait until they fall before acting

A patron who is already intoxicated on arrival cannot legally be served, even if they have not been served at this establishment yet. Unsteadiness and slurred speech are clear signs to refuse from the start. Offering water and help with a ride is the responsible next step.

In Texas, a 'minor' for purposes of buying, possessing, or consuming alcohol is any person under the age of:

• a.21✓
• b.25
• c.18
• d.19

In Texas a minor is anyone under 21 for alcohol purposes. Selling, serving, or making alcohol available to someone under 21 is illegal except in narrow statutory exceptions. Age 21 is the bright line every seller-server must apply.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

A customer who looks young hands you a driver license. The BEST practice for a seller-server is to:

• a.Trust the customer's word about their age
• b.Only check if the customer seems nervous
• c.Glance at the photo only
• d.Physically examine the ID, confirm it is valid and unaltered, and calculate the age from the date of birth✓

Good ID practice means handling the card, confirming it is a valid unaltered government ID, and doing the math on the birth date to confirm the person is 21. A quick glance or trusting the customer's word is not enough. Careful checks protect the server from liability.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

It is January 15, 2026. A customer's ID shows a date of birth of March 10, 2005. Are they 21 or older?

• a.It cannot be determined from a birth date
• b.No, they will not turn 21 until March 10, 2026✓
• c.Yes, because 2026 minus 2005 is 21
• d.Yes, they are already 21

Subtracting the years gives 21, but the birthday (March 10) has not yet occurred by January 15, 2026, so the customer is still 20. Age is only reached on the birthday itself, not at the start of the birth year. This customer must be refused alcohol.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

It is July 29, 2026. A customer presents an ID with a date of birth of July 29, 2005. What is their status?

• a.Exactly 21 today and may be served if not intoxicated✓
• b.Still 20 until tomorrow
• c.Cannot be served because same-day birthdays don't count
• d.Only 20 years old

On July 29, 2026, a person born July 29, 2005 turns exactly 21 that day and meets the legal age. As long as they are not intoxicated and the ID is valid, they may be served. The 21st birthday itself is the first day service is legal.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

It is June 1, 2026. An ID shows a date of birth of June 2, 2005. May this person be sold alcohol?

• a.No, they are still 20 until June 2, 2026✓
• b.Yes, they are 21
• c.Yes, close enough
• d.It depends on the state that issued the ID

On June 1, 2026, someone born June 2, 2005 is still 20 because their 21st birthday is the next day. Being one day short still means they are a minor and must be refused. Servers must check the exact birth date, not just the year.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

Which of the following is generally an ACCEPTABLE form of identification to verify a customer is 21?

• a.A photocopy of a friend's license
• b.A handwritten note from a parent
• c.A school library card
• d.A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID such as a driver license, state ID, passport, or military ID✓

Acceptable IDs are valid, unexpired, government-issued documents with a photo, such as a driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. Photocopies, non-photo cards, and notes are not acceptable proof of age. When in doubt about the document, the server should refuse.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

While checking an ID, you notice the photo looks like someone else and the birth date numbers appear slightly raised and re-glued. What should you do?

• a.Ask the customer to guess their own zodiac sign and serve if correct
• b.Accept it since it has a photo
• c.Refuse the sale and, per policy, involve management about the possible fake or altered ID✓
• d.Serve a smaller drink instead

Signs like a mismatched photo and tampered birth date indicate a possibly fake or altered ID, so the sale must be refused. Following house policy, the server should notify management. Accepting a questionable ID exposes the server and business to liability.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

Which of the following can be a warning sign that an ID may be fake or altered?

• a.The card feels tampered, with peeling edges or uneven text
• b.The height, weight, or description clearly does not match the customer
• c.The photo does not match the person presenting it
• d.Any of the above✓

A mismatched photo, physical tampering, or a description that does not match the customer are all red flags for a fake or altered ID. Any one of them justifies refusing the sale and involving management. Careful inspection of the whole card, not just the photo, catches most fakes.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

A confident 20-year-old presents a real-looking ID belonging to their 24-year-old sibling. What is the seller-server's best defense against this?

• a.Assuming siblings never share IDs
• b.Serving quickly to avoid a scene
• c.Comparing the photo and physical description to the person, and asking questions if something doesn't match✓
• d.Only checking IDs after 10 p.m.

When someone uses another person's real ID, the server's protection is to compare the photo and the printed description to the actual customer and ask verifying questions. Discrepancies in appearance, height, or details can reveal the borrowed card. Refuse if the person cannot convincingly match the ID.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

Selling or serving alcohol to a minor in Texas is illegal. Which of the following is a recognized statutory exception in limited circumstances?

• a.A minor may drink if a friend over 21 vouches for them
• b.A minor may be furnished alcohol by, and in the visible presence of, their adult parent, guardian, or spouse✓
• c.A minor may drink on their 20th birthday
• d.A minor may drink if they promise not to drive

Texas law allows a narrow exception where a minor is furnished alcohol by their adult parent, legal guardian, or spouse and is in that adult's visible presence. Promises, birthdays, or a friend vouching are not exceptions. A seller-server should apply these exceptions cautiously and follow house policy.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

TABC and law enforcement sometimes run 'minor sting' or decoy operations. In these operations:

• a.The minor is required to lie about their age
• b.Servers are told in advance which customer is the decoy
• c.An underage person attempts to buy alcohol to test whether staff properly check ID and refuse✓
• d.Only the manager can be cited, never the server

In a minor sting, an underage decoy tries to buy alcohol, usually presenting their real ID or none, to test whether staff check and refuse properly. Servers are not warned, and the individual who makes the illegal sale can be cited. Consistent ID checks are the only reliable protection.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

During a suspected sting, an underage-looking customer truthfully says they are 19 and asks for a beer. The correct response is to:

• a.Refuse the alcohol sale because the customer is a minor✓
• b.Serve it since they were honest
• c.Serve it if they leave a good tip
• d.Serve a non-alcoholic beer without telling them

A customer who is under 21, even if honest about it, cannot legally be sold alcohol. The server must refuse regardless of a sting. Honesty about being underage does not create any exception to the law.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

Which of these is TRUE about minors and alcohol in Texas?

• a.All of the above✓
• b.It is illegal for a minor to purchase alcohol
• c.It is illegal for a minor to consume alcohol except in narrow legal exceptions
• d.It is generally illegal for a minor to possess alcohol in public

Texas law makes it illegal for minors to purchase, publicly possess, or consume alcohol, subject only to narrow exceptions. Each of these can be a separate offense. Seller-servers help enforce these rules by refusing sales and monitoring who is drinking.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

A patron who is clearly 21+ buys two beers, then immediately hands one to a visibly teenage companion at the table. What should the server do?

• a.Do nothing, since the buyer was of age
• b.Bring the minor a menu
• c.Offer the minor a wine instead of beer
• d.Intervene, because providing alcohol to a minor is illegal, and stop serving that table if needed✓

A legal-age buyer who passes alcohol to a minor creates an illegal furnishing situation the server must address. The server should intervene, retrieve or refuse the drink, and may stop service to the table. Adults cannot lawfully hand bar-purchased alcohol to minors who are not their own child, ward, or spouse in their presence.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

An out-of-state passport is presented that you cannot fully read, and you are unsure it is genuine. Best practice is to:

• a.Guess and serve if the photo looks right
• b.Serve because passports are always valid
• c.Refuse the sale if you cannot confirm the ID is valid and the person is 21✓
• d.Ask another customer to translate and decide

If you cannot verify that an ID is genuine and that the person is 21, the correct choice is to refuse the sale. It is better to refuse a legitimate customer than to make an illegal sale to a minor. Following house policy and involving management is appropriate when documents are unclear.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

It is December 20, 2026. A customer's ID shows a date of birth of December 21, 2005. Can they be served alcohol today?

• a.Only after 5 p.m.
• b.Yes, they are 21
• c.No, they turn 21 tomorrow and are still a minor today✓
• d.Yes, one day early is fine

On December 20, 2026, a person born December 21, 2005 is still 20 because their 21st birthday is the following day. Even a single day short of 21 means they must be refused. The exact birth date, not just the year, governs eligibility.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

Which practice best reduces a seller-server's risk when checking IDs?

• a.Physically handling and inspecting the card
• b.Calculating age from the date of birth every time
• c.All of the above✓
• d.Checking ID for anyone who appears under a set age such as 30 or 40

Carding everyone who looks under a generous age threshold, handling the card to inspect it, and calculating age from the birth date together form strong ID-check practice. Using all of these habits catches more fakes and underage attempts. Consistency across every customer is the key.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

A group of four young adults arrives and only two have IDs; the other two say they 'left theirs in the car' but want drinks now. The seller-server should:

• a.Serve everyone one drink while they go get the IDs
• b.Serve all four since two showed ID
• c.Serve the two without ID if their friends vouch
• d.Only serve alcohol to those who present valid proof they are 21✓

Each person consuming alcohol must individually show valid proof of being 21, so those without ID cannot be served. Friends vouching or promising to retrieve an ID is not acceptable proof. The server may serve only the patrons who present valid identification.Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code

After refusing service to an intoxicated patron who then caused a disturbance, why should the seller-server document the incident?

• a.To create an accurate record that can support the business and staff if questions or a lawsuit arise later✓
• b.To get the patron banned from all bars statewide
• c.To post about it on social media
• d.Documentation is never necessary

Writing down what happened, when, and what actions were taken creates a factual record that can protect the staff and business later. Good documentation supports the safe-harbor and Dram Shop defenses. It is a routine part of handling difficult incidents responsibly.

A refusal-of-service incident report is most useful when it includes:

• a.All of the above✓
• b.The time and date of the incident
• c.The actions staff took, such as refusing service and offering a ride
• d.A factual description of the patron's behavior and signs of intoxication

An effective incident report captures the time and date, objective observations of the patron's condition, and the steps staff took. Sticking to facts rather than opinions makes the record credible. Complete documentation strengthens the establishment's position if the incident is later questioned.

A patron becomes angry when you refuse further service. The safest way to handle the refusal is to:

• a.Loudly announce to the whole bar that they are cut off
• b.Physically remove them yourself immediately
• c.Stay calm and polite, keep a professional tone, and avoid arguing or embarrassing the patron✓
• d.Mock them until they leave

Refusing service calmly and discreetly reduces the chance of confrontation and keeps everyone safer. Publicly embarrassing or physically confronting a patron tends to escalate the situation. A professional, low-key approach is both safer and more effective.

When a refusal starts to escalate beyond what the seller-server can safely handle, the best step is to:

• a.Involve a manager or security to help manage the situation✓
• b.Handle it entirely alone to avoid bothering anyone
• c.Serve one more drink to defuse it
• d.Leave the floor and hide

When a situation exceeds what one server can safely manage, bringing in a manager or security provides backup and helps de-escalate. Serving another drink would be illegal and counterproductive. Team support keeps both staff and patrons safe.

An intoxicated patron insists on driving home. The most responsible action for the seller-server and staff is to:

• a.Hand over the keys and wish them luck
• b.Offer and help arrange safe alternate transportation, such as a rideshare, taxi, or sober friend✓
• c.Only stop them if they are a stranger
• d.Let them drive since it is their choice

Helping arrange a safe ride, whether a rideshare, taxi, or sober companion, protects the patron and the public. Allowing an obviously intoxicated person to drive exposes them and others to serious harm and the business to liability. Offering transportation options is a key part of responsible service.

Which of the following belongs in good record-keeping practices for a seller-server establishment?

• a.Notes on actions taken to help intoxicated patrons get home safely
• b.Incident reports for refusals and over-service situations
• c.All of the above✓
• d.Records showing staff completed TABC-approved training

Solid record-keeping includes incident reports, notes on safety actions taken, and proof that staff completed approved training. Together these records support both operations and legal defenses. Maintaining them consistently is part of a responsible service program.

A patron passes out at a table. Beyond stopping service, the staff's FIRST concern should be:

• a.Getting them to sign a tab
• b.The patron's health and safety, seeking medical help if the person cannot be roused✓
• c.Taking a photo for the staff group chat
• d.Waking them just enough to order another round

A patron who cannot be roused may have a medical emergency, so their health and safety come first, including calling for medical help when needed. Documentation and other steps follow once the person is safe. Never attempt to continue serving someone in this condition.

Why is it important that refusal and incident decisions be backed by management involvement and clear policy?

• a.Consistent policy and management support protect staff, ensure fair treatment, and strengthen legal defenses✓
• b.So servers can blame each other later
• c.Because policies are only for show
• d.So the business can avoid ever refusing anyone

Clear house policy and management support give servers consistent guidance, protect them when they make correct refusals, and bolster the establishment's legal position. This consistency also ensures patrons are treated fairly. It is a foundation of a responsible service program.

When writing an incident report about a cut-off patron, the seller-server should record:

• a.Objective, factual observations such as slurred speech, stumbling, and the time service was refused✓
• b.Nothing, to avoid creating evidence
• c.Only the amount of the unpaid tab
• d.Personal opinions about the patron's character

Incident reports should stick to objective, observable facts like specific signs of intoxication and the time of refusal. Opinions about a patron's character weaken the record and can create problems. Factual, timely documentation is what protects staff and the business.

A patron you cut off asks a sober friend to drive them home, and the friend agrees. The seller-server should:

• a.Do nothing and walk away
• b.Refuse to let anyone leave
• c.Support the safe ride, and note in the incident record that alternate transportation was arranged✓
• d.Insist the intoxicated patron drive their own car

Encouraging and supporting a safe ride with a sober friend is exactly the responsible outcome, and noting it in the record documents that staff acted properly. This protects the patron and reinforces the establishment's defense. Helping arrange safe transport is a core seller-server responsibility.