How to Recognize the Signs of Intoxication

There are visual changes that will occur in a person’s behavior as they consume alcohol that will give you clues as to their level of intoxication. Understanding that the effects of alcohol are progressive is the key. Early recognition of these signs can keep someone from becoming a harm to themselves or others. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Keen observation skills
• Willingness to engage people in conversation

1. Size up each person’s potential for intoxication based upon their physical characteristics. Although alcohol affects everyone similarly, the speed at which it does so will be different based upon these physical characteristics. Size, gender, the rate of consumption, the strength of each drink, the amount of food and the additional use of drugs all are to be considered when determining how quickly alcohol may be affecting someone.
2. Check for a person’s inhibitions. If someone is becoming more talkative and beginning to lose some control of knowing how far they can go in a social setting, they are showing the first signs of intoxication. Louder behavior than usual--and even mood swings--are also possible warning signs.
3. From here, a person will progress through the stages of poor judgment. This is inappropriate behavior that their normal personality would not allow for them. Foul language, off-color jokes, and overly flirtatious behavior are signs of poor judgment. Also, if their rate of consumption begins to increase or they participate in drinking games, these could also be signs of poor judgment.
4. Once people drinking alcohol begin to show signs of physical impairment, first get them to stop drinking any more alcohol. Some beginning signs of physical impairment are reactions like glassy, unfocused eyes; slurred speech; or forgetting thoughts in mid-sentence. Talking slowly or moving slowly or almost in a robotic fashion are signs as well. My personal favorite is the lighting of a wrong end of a cigarette.
5. Lastly, once a person shows a loss of motor control or function, or poor coordination, they must not be left alone and they could become a danger to themselves or others. Stumbling or swaying, having difficulty with depth perception and dropping things repeatedly or having difficulty picking them up are signs that the person has progressed to this level.
6. Remember that it's possible for people to develop a tolerance for alcohol, but that does mean that they are not legally intoxicated. It just means that visual recognition is more difficult. There are things to look for that will help. Look for a heavy smell of alcohol on a person’s breath or if they are sweating profusely when they probably should not be. Redness in the body’s extremities can also be a sign.

Tips & Warnings

• When determining a person’s level of intoxication, they type of alcohol does not make a difference, if it has been served in a measured dose. Alcohol is classified as a drug. The amount of alcohol in 12 oz. of a typical domestic beer, 5 oz. of wine and a 1 oz. shot of 100-proof spirits is the same. What is typically different with these drinks is the rate at which a person consumes them.
• Steps 1 and 2 are signs of mental impairment. This means that people may only be considered hazards and may be returned to a responsible pattern of behavior through proper intervention action. Steps 3 and 4 are signs of physical impairment. The person may be a harm to themselves or to others.