Alcohol & Drugs

Study questions with answers

12 sample Alcohol & Drugs questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. Which of the following is a possible penalty for a conviction of riding under the influence?

   Correct answer: Mandatory license suspension and severe fines

   Penalties can include mandatory license suspension, severe fines, higher insurance rates, community service, and additional costs such as legal fees and lost work time.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol and the Law

2. 2. Which three factors most directly determine a person's blood alcohol concentration?

   Correct answer: The amount consumed, how fast you drink, and your body weight

   BAC is determined chiefly by how much alcohol you consume, how fast you drink it, and your body weight, though other factors can raise it further.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol in the Body

3. 3. A 12-ounce can of beer contains about the same amount of alcohol as which of these?

   Correct answer: A 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of hard liquor

   A 12-ounce beer, a mixed drink with one 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor, and a 5-ounce glass of wine all contain the same amount of alcohol.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol in the Body

4. 4. Why is riding a motorcycle while fatigued especially risky?

   Correct answer: Fatigue can affect your control of the motorcycle

   Riding is more tiring than driving a car, and fatigue can affect your control of the motorcycle; you should protect yourself from wind and cold, limit distance, and take frequent breaks.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Fatigue

5. 5. Which ability does alcohol impair first, creating a dangerous false sense of skill?

   Correct answer: Your judgment of your own riding

   Your ability to judge how well you are riding is affected first, so you may ride more poorly while believing you are doing better and taking greater risks.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Minimize the Risks

6. 6. About how quickly does the body eliminate alcohol?

   Correct answer: About one drink per hour

   Alcohol is eliminated at a rate of roughly one drink per hour, so if you consume drinks faster than that, alcohol accumulates in your body.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol in the Body

7. 7. According to the manual, at what point does alcohol begin to impair judgment and skills?

   Correct answer: Well below the legal limit

   Impairment of judgment and skills begins well below the legal limit, so whether or not you are legally intoxicated is not the real issue.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol and the Law

8. 8. How often does the manual suggest stopping to rest on a long ride to reduce fatigue?

   Correct answer: At least every two hours

   To limit fatigue, take frequent breaks by stopping and getting off the motorcycle at least every two hours, and avoid riding more than about six hours in a day.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Fatigue

9. 9. If you have four drinks over two hours, about how many drinks remain in your system afterward?

   Correct answer: At least two drinks

   Since roughly one drink is eliminated per hour, four drinks over two hours leaves at least two drinks in your system, requiring about two more hours to clear before you consider riding.

   Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol in the Body

10. 10. What BAC level is considered legally intoxicated for an adult in all states?

    Correct answer: 0.08 percent

    In every state an adult with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or above is considered intoxicated, and lower limits apply to operators under 21.

    Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol and the Law

11. 11. Even if you wait one hour per drink before riding, what may still remain?

    Correct answer: Side effects such as fatigue may still remain

    Even after waiting an hour per drink, side effects from the alcohol, such as fatigue, may still remain and affect your riding.

    Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol in the Body

12. 12. How quickly does alcohol begin to affect a person after it is consumed?

    Correct answer: Within minutes, since it needs no digestion

    Unlike most food and drink, alcohol does not need to be digested; within minutes it reaches the brain and begins to affect the drinker, slowing and impairing mental and physical function.

    Source: Missouri Motorcycle Operator Manual — Alcohol in the Body