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New York DMV Permit Test · Learner Permit Written Test

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New York DMV Permit Test Alcohol and Other Drugs Summary

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About 2 of 20 Learner Permit Written Test questions (10%)

How alcohol and drugs affect driving, New York's DWI and DWAI limits, the Zero Tolerance law, and chemical test refusal.

📖 See Alcohol and Other Drugs concepts →

Alcohol and Other Drugs: must-know points

  • A blood alcohol level of 0.08% or more is Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
  • Under the Zero Tolerance law, a driver under 21 with 0.02% to 0.07% faces license suspension.

Alcohol and Other Drugs: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 1. In New York, a driver 21 or older with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more can be charged with what?

  1. ① Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) only
  2. ② Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
  3. ③ A traffic ticket only
  4. ④ Nothing, if they feel fine
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Answer: ② Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Key point: BAC 0.08% or more = DWI

In New York, a BAC of 0.08% or more is Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

Wrong choices

  • Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) only: DWAI is for lower BAC levels. 0.08% or more is DWI.
  • A traffic ticket only: DWI is a serious crime, not a simple ticket.
  • Nothing, if they feel fine: How the driver feels does not matter. The BAC level counts.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 2. What is the only thing that lowers your blood alcohol content (BAC)?

  1. ① Time
  2. ② Black coffee
  3. ③ A cold shower
  4. ④ Eating a big meal after drinking
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Answer: ① Time

Key point: Only time lowers BAC

Only time lowers BAC. Your body removes alcohol slowly. Coffee, cold showers, fresh air, or exercise do not make you sober.

Wrong choices

  • Black coffee: Coffee may make you feel awake, but it does not lower BAC.
  • A cold shower: A shower does not remove alcohol from your blood.
  • Eating a big meal after drinking: Food after drinking does not lower BAC that is already in your blood.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 3. Under New York's Zero Tolerance law, a driver under 21 faces license suspension with a BAC in which range?

  1. ① 0.02% to 0.07%
  2. ② 0.05% to 0.07%
  3. ③ 0.08% to 0.10%
  4. ④ 0.10% or more
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Answer: ① 0.02% to 0.07%

Key point: Under 21: Zero Tolerance at 0.02%–0.07%

New York's Zero Tolerance law applies to drivers under 21. A BAC of 0.02% to 0.07% leads to license suspension.

Wrong choices

  • 0.05% to 0.07%: Zero Tolerance starts lower, at 0.02%.
  • 0.08% to 0.10%: 0.08% or more is DWI, which is more serious.
  • 0.10% or more: That is far above the Zero Tolerance range.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 4. You take a cold medicine that warns it may cause drowsiness. What is true?

  1. ① It is legal, so it cannot affect your driving
  2. ② It can impair your driving, and you can be charged if you are impaired
  3. ③ Only illegal drugs affect driving
  4. ④ Coffee will cancel out its effects
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Answer: ② It can impair your driving, and you can be charged if you are impaired

Key point: Legal medicines can impair driving too

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving, causing drowsiness or slower reactions. In New York, driving while impaired by drugs is against the law, even if the drug is legal.

Wrong choices

  • It is legal, so it cannot affect your driving: Legal medicines can still impair driving.
  • Only illegal drugs affect driving: Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can also impair you.
  • Coffee will cancel out its effects: Coffee does not cancel the effects of medicine.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 5. Which drink has about the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce can of beer?

  1. ① A 12-ounce glass of wine
  2. ② A 12-ounce glass of liquor
  3. ③ A 20-ounce glass of wine
  4. ④ A 5-ounce glass of wine
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Answer: ④ A 5-ounce glass of wine

Key point: 12 oz beer = 5 oz wine = 1.5 oz liquor

A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor each contain about the same amount of alcohol. No type of drink is "safer" than another.

Wrong choices

  • A 12-ounce glass of wine: 12 ounces of wine has much more alcohol than one beer.
  • A 12-ounce glass of liquor: That would be many times more alcohol than one beer.
  • A 20-ounce glass of wine: That is about four times as much alcohol.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 6. A driver who is 25 years old has a BAC of 0.06%. What can the driver be charged with in New York?

  1. ① Driving While Ability Impaired by alcohol (DWAI)
  2. ② Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
  3. ③ Nothing, because it is below 0.08%
  4. ④ Zero Tolerance violation
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Answer: ① Driving While Ability Impaired by alcohol (DWAI)

Key point: BAC over 0.05% but under 0.08%: can be DWAI

In New York, a BAC of more than 0.05% (but under 0.08%) can be used as evidence of Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI). You do not need to reach 0.08% to be charged.

Wrong choices

  • Driving While Intoxicated (DWI): DWI is for a BAC of 0.08% or more.
  • Nothing, because it is below 0.08%: A BAC above 0.05% can still lead to a DWAI charge.
  • Zero Tolerance violation: Zero Tolerance applies only to drivers under 21.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 7. What happens if a driver refuses a chemical test (such as a breath test) after a DWI arrest in New York?

  1. ① Nothing happens if the driver is found not guilty
  2. ② The driver gets only a warning the first time
  3. ③ The driver may simply take the test the next day
  4. ④ The license is revoked, even if the driver is not found guilty of DWI
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Answer: ④ The license is revoked, even if the driver is not found guilty of DWI

Key point: Refusing a chemical test = license revoked

Under New York law, refusing a chemical test leads to license revocation, even if you are not convicted of DWI. The refusal is handled separately from the criminal case.

Wrong choices

  • Nothing happens if the driver is found not guilty: The refusal penalty is separate from the DWI case.
  • The driver gets only a warning the first time: Even a first refusal leads to license revocation.
  • The driver may simply take the test the next day: Refusing has its own penalty right away.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 8. What does New York's implied consent law mean?

  1. ① By driving, you agree to a chemical test if lawfully asked
  2. ② You must agree before police can stop you
  3. ③ You may refuse a test with no penalty
  4. ④ Only drivers under 21 can be tested
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Answer: ① By driving, you agree to a chemical test if lawfully asked

Key point: Implied consent: driving means you agree to testing

Under the implied consent law, anyone who drives in New York is considered to have agreed to a chemical test (breath, blood, urine, or saliva) for alcohol or drugs when lawfully asked by police.

Wrong choices

  • You must agree before police can stop you: Police do not need your agreement to stop you.
  • You may refuse a test with no penalty: Refusal leads to license revocation.
  • Only drivers under 21 can be tested: All drivers can be tested.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 9. What happens when you mix alcohol with other drugs, such as sleeping pills?

  1. ① The drugs cancel out the alcohol
  2. ② The alcohol wears off faster
  3. ③ The effects can be much stronger and more dangerous
  4. ④ There is no change in the effects
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Answer: ③ The effects can be much stronger and more dangerous

Key point: Alcohol plus drugs: much more dangerous

Mixing alcohol with other drugs can multiply the effects of both. Even small amounts together can seriously impair your driving.

Wrong choices

  • The drugs cancel out the alcohol: Drugs do not cancel alcohol. They often make it stronger.
  • The alcohol wears off faster: Mixing does not speed up how fast alcohol leaves the body.
  • There is no change in the effects: Mixing usually increases the danger.
Practice questionReviewedLearner Permit Written Test › Alcohol and Other Drugs★★★★☆

Question 10. A 19-year-old driver is stopped and has a BAC of 0.09%. Which statement is correct?

  1. ① Only the Zero Tolerance law applies because the driver is under 21
  2. ② Only a DWAI charge is possible for drivers under 21
  3. ③ Nothing happens, because the BAC is under 0.10%
  4. ④ The driver can be charged with DWI, just like an adult
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Answer: ④ The driver can be charged with DWI, just like an adult

Key point: Under 21 at 0.08% or more: DWI applies

The Zero Tolerance law covers drivers under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% to 0.07%. A driver of any age with a BAC of 0.08% or more can be charged with DWI.

Wrong choices

  • Only the Zero Tolerance law applies because the driver is under 21: Zero Tolerance covers 0.02% to 0.07%. At 0.08% or more, DWI applies.
  • Only a DWAI charge is possible for drivers under 21: At 0.09%, the more serious DWI charge applies.
  • Nothing happens, because the BAC is under 0.10%: 0.08% is the DWI level, so 0.09% is over it.

Test yourself.

Alcohol and Other Drugs: 5 questions →Learner Permit Written Test: 5 questions →