Where’s the Line :: What is intoxication?

Ross Henderson, Health Protection Advisor, Waikato District Health Board, simply and clearly defines intoxication and its physical and mental effects in a way that is accessible to all.

Below are the video clips that describe the FOUR levels of intoxication and what these mean for patrons and staff alike.

In a nutshell there are FOUR levels of Intoxication:

Loss of Inhibitions
The happy phase:
This loss of inhibitions is what most people are striving for as they take those first drinks. The loss of inhibitions allows customers to relax, socialise and generally have a good time - to feel happy.

Loss of Judgement Loss of Judgment
The loud stage:
There is a blurry line between the loss of inhibitions and the loss of judgment. It's a line that's different for every drinker and a lot of factors come into play to precipitate the transition.

This is the stage that the drinker begins to enter a place when they will experience regrets the next day and it's the stage when their behaviour can damage your business.

THIS IS THE TIME TO INTERVENE!

Loss of Reactions
Swaying and slurring:
Once a drinker losses their judgment and if they continue to drink they will eventually begin to lose their reactions. This is when your patron begins to show the physical signs of intoxication.

Loss of Coordination
Falling over drunk:
Finally alcohol will attack the motor skills of the drinker and they begin to stumble, fall and knock into things.

Where's the line?

When your patron starts to drink at the beginning of the night they experience quite quickly the euphoria associated with a loss of inhibitions. Unfortunately for them (and you) mostly they are unable to stay in this stage of intoxication. They can quite quickly move to the next phase and soon after to a place where you may need to say something to them.