Glossary

Specialized terms used in this Seminar and their meanings:

ABC: California Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Absorption: The way alcohol enters the bloodstream. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood through the stomach and small intestine.

Addiction: Physical dependence upon a drug, characterized by withdrawal symptoms in the absence of the drug.

Alcohol:
1. A liquid or solid containing more than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume capable of being consumed by a human being.
2. A toxic drug; a depressant that slows activity in the central nervous system, resulting in impaired mental and physical performance.

Alcohol Policy: A policy written by establishments to partner with staff in the In House Policies concerning the sales and service of alcohol.

Alcoholism: An addiction to alcohol. A chronic, progressive, treatable disease characterized by a person's inability to control or stop drinking alcohol. "Denial" that alcohol interferes with a person's physical, psychological or social problems is common.

BAC: Blood Alcohol Content. The amount of alcohol in the blood, determined by the percentage of alcohol in relation to other blood components. For example, .08% BAC means there are eight parts of alcohol per 10,000 parts of blood. (Also Breath Alcohol Content. Many law enforcement agencies use breath tests to determine a person's alcohol content.)

B & P: Business and Professions Code.

Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and spinal cord, which collect, process, and transmit information.

Criminal Liability: Crime against the state for which an officer of the state can bring legal action. Society is harmed by an individual breaking the laws of the state. Usually there is no statue of limitations for criminal liability. Property and casualty insurance is not designed to provide coverage for the criminal acts of an insured individual.

Dependence: The physical or psychological need for a drug, resulting from continuous use 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 a poison or toxin, such as alcohol, and its effect from the body. The liver is the human body's detoxification organ.

Diagnose: Determine an illness from the signs and symptoms a patient exhibits.

Distilled Spirits: Alcoholic beverages made by distilling the product of fermented grains, fruits, and vegetables. Alcohol content is 40 to 50% or 80 to 100 proof equivalent.

Drink Equivalency: There is the same amount of ethyl alcohol in a 12 ounce bottle of beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine, and 1-1/2 ounces of 80 proof equivalent.

Drug: A chemical substance that produces a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in the user.

DUI: Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. In California, the legal standard for DUI is a BAC of .08%. In other words, a person is presumed guilty of DUI if their BAC is .08% or greater. DUII 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.

Fermentation Process: A chemical breakdown of fruits and or grains.

Hospitality Industry: Restaurants, hotels, and other businesses that provide food, lodging, and other services.

Impairment: A decrease in physical and mental abilities.

Implied Consent Law: says that anyone who drives on California's roads has given their consent to submit to a BAC test upon request of the police. If the person refuses the test, they automatically lose driving privileges for a minimum period of one year.

Incident Log: A daily record of any events occurring in an establishment kept by the licensed premises.

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.

Liability: Responsibility.

License: a legal document giving official permission to do something.

Licensee: A person or entity granted the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages.

Liquor License: The official approval of the ABC for a person or entity to manufacture, distribute, take orders for, and sell spirits, wines, beer, and other alcoholic liquors.

Liver: The organ in the human body that detoxifies alcohol.

Manslaughter: Causing a death with criminal negligence.

Metabolization: The chemical process of breaking down a substance, such as alcohol, in the body.

Minor: In California, any person younger than 21 years of age.

Misdemeanor: a crime less serious than a felony.

Premises: An establishment's building and grounds, including parking lots.

Proof: The alcohol content of distilled liquor. Equal to 2 times the percentage of alcohol. For example, 100 proof equal 50% alcohol content.

Provider: A business certified by the California ABC to offer, or provide, alcohol server education classes.

Stimulants: Chemicals that speed up the processes of the central nervous system. Sometimes called "uppers."

Tolerance: The condition when a drug user requires increasingly larger amounts of the drug to produce the same effect. A change in the system of the user, developing with prolonged or increased use of a drug. (Remember, alcohol is a drug.).

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.

Trace Program: Is a protocol wherein first responders to alcohol-related emergencies immediately notify ABC when an incident involves a person under 21 and an alcoholic beverage that results in great bodily injury or death.

Visible Intoxication: Intoxication others can observe. The standard used by alcohol servers to determine if a customer is intoxicated.

Wine: An alcoholic beverage made from grape or fruit juices. The alcohol content is more than one half of one percent by volume and not more than 21% of alcohol by volume.