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 these will actually sober up a person who has been drinking?

   Correct answer: Only time

   Only the passage of time lowers your BAC; coffee, a cold shower, or fresh air will not speed it up.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely

2. 2. What happens if any measurable alcohol under .04% is found while you operate a CMV?

   Correct answer: You are placed out of service for 24 hours

   Any detectable alcohol under .04% puts you out of service for 24 hours.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 1: Introduction

3. 3. When you operate a commercial motor vehicle, what have you consented to regarding alcohol?

   Correct answer: You are considered to have consented to alcohol testing

   By operating a CMV you are deemed to have given consent to alcohol testing; refusing costs your CDL for at least a year.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 1: Introduction

4. 4. If a first alcohol offense happens while you are driving a vehicle placarded for hazardous materials, how long is the loss?

   Correct answer: At least three years

   When the CMV is placarded for hazmat, a first offense raises the disqualification to at least three years.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 1: Introduction

5. 5. Why should you never use a drug that hides fatigue?

   Correct answer: The only real cure for fatigue is rest

   Such a drug does not make you alert; the only cure for fatigue is rest, so masking it is dangerous.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely

6. 6. What is the penalty for a second major alcohol or drug offense involving a CMV?

   Correct answer: For life

   A second such offense results in loss of your CDL for life.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 1: Introduction

7. 7. Which part of a person is affected first as blood alcohol concentration builds up?

   Correct answer: Judgment and self-control

   Alcohol first affects the part of the brain controlling judgment and self-control, which can hide from drinkers how impaired they are.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely

8. 8. Which of the following contains about the same amount of alcohol as the others?

   Correct answer: A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot are about equal

   A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor all hold roughly the same alcohol.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely

9. 9. About how much alcohol can the liver process in one hour?

   Correct answer: About one-third of an ounce

   The liver clears roughly one-third of an ounce of alcohol per hour, less than a standard drink contains.

   Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely

10. 10. It is illegal to operate a commercial vehicle at a blood alcohol concentration of what level or higher?

    Correct answer: .04%

    Driving a CMV with a BAC of .04% or more is illegal and costs you your CDL for at least a year on a first offense.

    Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 1: Introduction

11. 11. When is it permitted for a driver to use a drug prescribed by a doctor?

    Correct answer: Only if the doctor says it will not affect safe driving

    A doctor-prescribed drug is allowed only if the doctor states it will not affect the driver's ability to drive safely.

    Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely

12. 12. What three factors determine a person's blood alcohol concentration?

    Correct answer: Amount consumed, drinking speed, and body weight

    BAC depends on how much you drink, how fast you drink it, and your body weight.

    Source: Connecticut CDL Manual - Section 2: Driving Safely