Absorption: The way alcohol enters the bloodstream. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood through the stomach and small intestine.
Addiction: A physical or psychological need or urge to do or use something, even knowing it causes harm. Alcohol addiction is also characterized by withdrawal symptoms in the absence of it.
Alcohol: A liquid or solid containing more than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume capable of being consumed by a human being. It is the substance known as ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl, or spirit of wine, which is commonly produced by the fermentation or distillation of grain, starch, molasses, sugar, or other substances including all dilutions and mixtures of this substance. Alcohol is a toxic drug, a depressant that slows activity in the central nervous system, resulting in impaired mental and physical performance. The term “alcohol” does not include alcohol in the possession of a manufacturer or distiller of alcohol fuel, as described in RCW 66.12.130, which is intended to be denatured and used as fuel for use in motor vehicles, farm implements, and machines or implements of husbandry.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD): A condition characterized by a person’s inability to control or stop drinking alcohol, even when use interferes with a person’s physical, psychological, or social well-being. It may range from mild to severe, and it includes a level of drinking that may be referred to as alcoholism.
Acceptable forms of identification: Acceptable forms of identification must include the person’s photo, date of birth, and signature, except on federally issued identification where a visible signature is not required. If the identification has an expiration date, it cannot be used after the expiration date to verify age. (WAC 314-11-025).
Apparently intoxicated person: The person’s appearance and behavior would lead a reasonable observer to conclude that the person is intoxicated.
BAC: Blood Alcohol Content or Concentration. The percentage of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. Law enforcement agencies typically use a breath test to determine BAC, but blood tests and urine tests can also be used to determine BAC levels.
Binge drinking: For men, having 5 or more drinks, and for women having 4 or more drinks on one occasion (or within about 2 hours).
Blackout: A period of amnesia or loss of memory while intoxicated.
Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and the spinal cord, which collect, process, and transmit information.
Delirium Tremens (DTs): A severe form of alcohol withdrawal that can be life-threatening. Symptoms may include confusion, disordered speech, tremors or seizures, sweating, nausea, tachycardia, and hallucinations.
Dependence: The physical or psychological need for a drug, resulting from continuous use and characterized by physical or mental withdrawal in the absence of the drug.
Depressant: A chemical that slows down the processes of the central nervous system.
Designated driver: A person chosen to be the driver for others who are consuming alcohol. A designated driver does not drink alcohol to ensure that everyone in the group gets home safely.
Detoxification: The act of removing poison or toxin, such as alcohol, from the body. The liver is the human body’s detoxification organ.
Diagnosis: Determination of an illness from the signs and symptoms a person exhibits.
Distilled spirits: Alcoholic beverages made by distilling the product of fermented grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugars. Alcohol content is generally 40% to 50% or 80 to 100 proof. Commonly called “hard liquor.”
Drink equivalent: The term used to describe what is commonly referred to as one standard drink, equal to 14 grams of alcohol. This is found in a 12-ounce beer that contains 5% ABV, a 5-ounce glass of wine that is 12% ABV, or 1.5 ounces of spirits that are 40% ABV or 80 proof.
Drug: A chemical substance that produces a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in the user.
DUI: Driving Under the Influence. In Washington, the legal standard for DUI is a BAC of .08%. A person is presumed guilty of DUI if their BAC is .08% or higher. DUI includes being under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.
Ethyl alcohol: The alcohol in beverages. The only alcohol that can be consumed without causing severe immediate physical damage.
Hospitality industry: Restaurants, hotels, and other businesses that provide food, lodging, and other related services.
House duty or house policy: Rules that the owners or managers of a business set for their employees that are equal to or stricter than legal requirements.
Impairment: A decrease in physical and/or mental abilities.
Implied consent law: Says that anyone who drives on Washington’s roads has given their consent to submit to a breath or blood test if arrested for any offense where, at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the person refuses the test, they automatically lose driving privileges for a minimum period of one year. In some instances, a blood or urine test may be requested: (1) if a person is involved in a vehicle or property accident, the hospital may draw blood, or (s) if the BAC is low and the person is showing impaired signs, urine may be requested.
Incident log: A daily record of any events occurring in an establishment kept by the licensed premises.
Intervention: The alcohol servers’ legal and professional responsibility to control and limit the customer’s consumption of alcohol to prevent drinking to intoxication, the consumption of alcohol by apparently intoxicated persons, the consumption of alcohol by minors, and intoxicated persons from driving.
Intoxication: The condition of physical and mental impairment resulting from consumption of alcohol or other drugs, legal or illegal.
Intoxicant: Anything that produces intoxication, including but not limited to alcohol and other legal drugs, illegal drugs, and household chemicals.
Legal duty: A duty the law requires a person to perform.
Legal liability: Responsibility or obligation required by law.
License Certification Card: Per RCW 66.20.190 and 66.20.210, if a patron presents proper identification as outlined in WAC 314-11-025 but the licensee or employee still has doubts about the patron’s age, the licensee or employee may require the patron to sign a certification card. Certification cards are provided by the board’s enforcement and education division. The certification card must be filled out and filed alphabetically by the licensee or employee by the close of business on the day used. Certification cards are subject to examination by any law enforcement officer.
Liquor: Alcohol, beer, wine, or spirits (per RCW 66.04.010(19) – Definitions).
Liquor enforcement officer (LEO): An individual designated as a liquor enforcement officer by the Board of the WSLCB, and any peace officer as defined by RCW 9A.04.110(15) as it now exists or may later be amended.
Liquor license: The official approval of the WSLCB for a person or entity to manufacture, distribute, take orders for, and sell spirits, wines, beer, and other alcohol products.
Liquor licensee: A person or entity granted the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages.
Liver: The organ in the human body that detoxifies alcohol.
Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST): “Alcohol server education program,” “mandatory alcohol server training,” or “mandatory alcohol server training program” means the set of policies and procedures developed and administered by the WSLCB or board to educate servers and enforce state liquor laws and regulations.
Metabolization: The chemical process of breaking down a substance, such as alcohol, in the body.
Minimum food service: Means that menu items such as sandwiches, salad, soup, pizza, hamburgers, fries, savory pies, tacos, dumplings, fried rice, and other similar items are available to order. Menu items that consist solely of the following types of food do not qualify as minimum food service: Precooked frozen meals that are reheated, carry-out items obtained from another business, or snack food.
Minor: Any person under the age of 21 years of age.
Oxidation: The process by which the body burns alcohol for elimination. The liver oxidizes 90% of alcohol, at a rate equal to about one standard drink per hour.
Permittee: An alcohol server holding a valid Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) permit.
Premises: The buildings, grounds, and related areas of an establishment, including parking lots.
Problem drinking: Not an official diagnosis but a phrase used to describe people who use alcohol to the extent that it causes problems such as DUI, marital/relationship problems, difficulty on the job, or other negative consequences. This differs from alcohol use disorder, also known as alcoholism, which usually requires treatment to change the behavior.
Professional duty: Duties a server chooses to perform because they want to do more than legal duties to protect customers, themselves, their employers, and society in general.
Proof: The alcohol content of distilled liquor. Equal to two times the percentage of alcohol. For example, 100 proof equals 50% alcohol content.
Provider: A business certified by the WSLCB to offer, or provide, alcohol server training classes.
Responsible alcohol service: The legal and professional responsibility of alcohol servers to consistently takes care that customers do not drink to intoxication, that minors do not possess or consume alcohol, and that intoxicated customers are not served and do not drive.
Revised Code of Washington (RCW): A compilation of the permanent laws in force in the State of Washington. Washington Administrative Code (WAC) is the compilation of rules enacted by state agencies that are specifically enabled to administer the laws of Washington State. Both statutes and rules have the force of law, and both may be updated frequently. The WSLCB has authority to enact most of the alcohol-related rules.
Stimulants: Chemicals that speed up the processes of the central nervous system. Sometimes called “uppers.”
Third party liability: A law that allows a victim to sue a server or licensee for damages and injuries resulting from the actions of a customer. In Washington, third party liability applies when the server or licensee violates the law by serving a minor or an apparently intoxicated person, and another person is injured because of the actions or negligence of the licensee or server. The first party is the licensee/server, the second party is the customer, and the third party is the victim.
Tolerance: The condition that occurs when the user of a drug requires increasingly larger amounts of the drug to experience some of the same effects due to the body suppressing its normal response to the drug. Although a person’s alcohol tolerance may increase, the actual BAC does not decrease.
Toxic: Poisonous; causing death, harm, or impairment.
Tranquilizers: Depressant drugs that slow down the central nervous system. Also known as “downers.” Used in combination with alcohol, the depressant effects of both drugs are intensified, sometimes resulting in coma or death.
Wine: Any alcoholic beverage obtained by fermentation of fruits (grapes, berries, apples, et cetera) or other agricultural products containing sugar, to which any saccharine substances may have been added before, during or after fermentation, and containing not more than 24 percent alcohol by volume, and not less than .5 percent of alcohol by volume.
Withdrawal: The physical and mental symptoms experienced when an individual stops or reduces use of a substance such as alcohol after prolonged or heavy use. Symptoms can include vomiting, tremors, sweating, fatigue, depression, insomnia, and convulsions.
Visit RCW.66.04.010 for additional definitions provided in state law (Revised Code of Washington).