What does the FOM say about alcohol?

• A. BAC of 0.02 or less
• B. May not be consumed within 8 hours
• C. No lasting effects of alcohol
• D. Alcohol is allowed if not flying

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the FOM sets a pre-duty alcohol ban to keep crew members alert and unimpaired. It specifies that you may not have consumed alcohol within eight hours of reporting for duty. This focuses on timing because alcohol can affect performance even after a person feels fine, and the policy aims to prevent impaired judgment, reaction time, and coordination before and during duty.

Why this is the best choice: eight hours is a clear, enforceable window that directly ties to reducing the risk of impairment when you report for duty. It covers the period where residual alcohol in the system could still affect performance, regardless of how you feel.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: a fixed BAC limit like 0.02 isn’t what the FOM uses for pre-duty rules; the policy centers on the time since drinking rather than a specific blood-alcohol level before duty. Claiming there are no lasting effects is incorrect because alcohol can impair abilities even after the initial effects wear off, and the standard emphasizes safety during the pre-duty period. Saying alcohol is allowed if not flying ignores the pre-duty rule entirely, which governs drinking before reporting for duty, not just during active flight.