Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) Practice Exam

What is the term used in the Penal Code to indicate a lack of normal mental or physical faculties due to substance introduction?

1. Incapacitation

2. Intoxication

3. DUI

4. Addiction

The correct answer is: Intoxication

The term that describes a lack of normal mental or physical faculties resulting from the introduction of a substance into the body is "intoxication." Intoxication refers specifically to the state where alcohol or drugs have impaired an individual’s cognitive or motor abilities, affecting their capacity to function normally. This is a critical legal concept, particularly in the context of driving under the influence or other behaviors that may pose a risk to oneself or others when a person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The definition encompasses the effects that various substances have on the body, distinguishing it from other terms that relate to substance use. In contrast, "incapacitation," while related, generally refers to a broader state of being unable to act or respond, which does not specifically denote impairment due to substances. "DUI" stands for driving under the influence, which is an offense related to the act of operating a vehicle while intoxicated but does not itself define the condition of impaired faculties. "Addiction," on the other hand, refers to a chronic condition characterized by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences, and does not directly imply a state of intoxication at a given moment. Thus, "intoxication" is the most precise term to define the impairment caused