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 statement about even a small amount of alcohol is accurate?

   Correct answer: It can reduce your concentration, judgment, and memory

   Even the smallest amount of alcohol reduces your concentration, perception, judgment, and memory, so your driving skills suffer well before you reach the legal limit.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Learning to Drive

2. 2. Pennsylvania's Implied Consent law means that, simply by being licensed to drive in the state, you have already agreed to:

   Correct answer: Take a chemical test if arrested for DUI

   By holding a Pennsylvania license, you have consented to chemical testing of your breath or blood if police arrest you for driving under the influence.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Driving Record Information

3. 3. A person driving a commercial vehicle in Pennsylvania is considered under the influence at a blood alcohol level of:

   Correct answer: .04 or more

   Commercial vehicle drivers face a lower threshold of .04 BAC, which falls under the High Rate penalty table.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Driving Record Information

4. 4. Taking other drugs at the same time as alcohol generally:

   Correct answer: Increases the effects and the crash risk

   Combining alcohol with other drugs increases the side effects of both and greatly raises the risk of causing a crash.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Learning to Drive

5. 5. About how long does it take the body of an average-weight person to process the alcohol in one drink?

   Correct answer: About one hour

   It takes at least one hour to process the alcohol in a single drink. Having more than one drink per hour is likely to push your BAC over the legal limit.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Learning to Drive

6. 6. How can marijuana affect a person's ability to drive?

   Correct answer: It slows reaction time and reduces coordination

   Marijuana can slow reaction time, hurt your judgment of time and distance, and reduce coordination, all of which make driving unsafe.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Learning to Drive

7. 7. According to the manual, one standard drink is considered equal to:

   Correct answer: 1.5 ounces of liquor, 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine

   One drink is defined as 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor, 12 ounces of regular beer, or 5 ounces of wine. Each contains a similar amount of alcohol.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Learning to Drive

8. 8. For a Pennsylvania driver who is 21 or older, the blood alcohol concentration that meets the definition of DUI is:

   Correct answer: .08 or higher

   A driver of legal drinking age is considered to be driving under the influence at a BAC of .08 or higher. You can still be charged at lower levels for erratic driving.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Driving Record Information

9. 9. Under Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance law, a driver under age 21 is considered to be driving under the influence at a blood alcohol level of:

   Correct answer: .02 or greater

   For drivers under 21, the Zero Tolerance law lowers the DUI threshold to a BAC of .02 or greater, since they may not legally drink at all.

   Source: PA Driver's Manual — Driving Record Information

10. 10. Staying awake for 24 hours straight impairs your driving roughly the same as a blood alcohol level of:

    Correct answer: .10

    Going 24 hours without sleep affects your driving roughly like a BAC of .10, while 18 hours awake is comparable to about .05.

    Source: PA Driver's Manual — Learning to Drive

11. 11. If police arrest you for DUI and you refuse to take a chemical test of your breath or blood, your driving privilege will be:

    Correct answer: Suspended automatically for one year

    Refusing a chemical test brings an automatic one-year suspension, and that suspension is in addition to any penalty for a DUI conviction, even if you are later found not guilty of the DUI.

    Source: PA Driver's Manual — Driving Record Information

12. 12. If you are arrested for DUI and refuse to provide a breath or blood sample, your driving privilege will be:

    Correct answer: Suspended automatically for one year

    Refusing a chemical test brings an automatic one-year suspension, and that suspension is in addition to any penalty for a DUI conviction, even if you are later found not guilty of the DUI.

    Source: PA Driver's Manual — Driving Record Information