Driving while just a little buzzed?

[thunderboom]

Hey guys - another mortal sin question! Just what you wanted on a fine Sunday morning!

So last night I was hanging out at the bar where my friend works. I had one beer, though a strong one. I was a little buzzed at the bar, I felt a little lurchy, so I waited a while and drank a bunch of water before I took off. I walked back to the car, my responses were a little bit off, but I thought I could drive (probably a mistake). I drove home, perfectly, kept my car perfectly between the lines, drove very legally and all that, though I had a little haze. At a couple of points I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t be driving, but I plowed on anyway and reached home just fine. A couple hours later I was home on my house, sobered up, and I realized I probably shouldn’t have been driving.

Mind you, I just turned twenty-one and just started drinking after pledging myself to wait until I reached legal age. Apparently I’m a lightweight drinker, and I get a reaction from one or two beers. Now, considering that, I’ve never been drunk before. I’m thinking my unintended minor drunkeness must have influenced my decision. Was this just a mistake or did I commit a mortal sin? I know you can’t commit such a sin by accident, and I didn’t intend to. I feel like a just made a rookie mistake, and now I know my limit, and I won’t do it again. Is this even worthy of confessing, and should scrupulous me skip receiving the Blessed Sacrament?

 

[garn9173]

Definitely a light weight drinker if you gut a buzz off of one beer As long as you were under the legal limit, which i’m assume you were if it was only one beer, you’re fine…no sin committed.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Hey guys - another mortal sin question! Just what you wanted on a fine Sunday morning!

So last night I was hanging out at the bar where my friend works. I had one beer, though a strong one. I was a little buzzed at the bar, I felt a little lurchy, so I waited a while and drank a bunch of water before I took off. I walked back to the car, my responses were a little bit off, but I thought I could drive (probably a mistake). I drove home, perfectly, kept my car perfectly between the lines, drove very legally and all that, though I had a little haze. At a couple of points I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t be driving, but I plowed on anyway and reached home just fine. A couple hours later I was home on my house, sobered up, and I realized I probably shouldn’t have been driving.

Mind you, I just turned twenty-one and just started drinking after pledging myself to wait until I reached legal age. Apparently I’m a lightweight drinker, and I get a reaction from one or two beers. Now, considering that, I’ve never been drunk before. I’m thinking my unintended minor drunkeness must have influenced my decision. Was this just a mistake or did I commit a mortal sin? I know you can’t commit such a sin by accident, and I didn’t intend to. I feel like a just made a rookie mistake, and now I know my limit, and I won’t do it again. Is this even worthy of confessing, and should scrupulous me skip receiving the Blessed Sacrament?

Glad your home safe. Not to mention the rest of the people out last night.

Buzzed driving? I’ve certainly done it. So, I’m not casting any stones here. Whether it was a self centered act. Or the result of poor planning.

I’d mention it.

 

[TylerEast]

Hey guys - another mortal sin question! Just what you wanted on a fine Sunday morning!

So last night I was hanging out at the bar where my friend works. I had one beer, though a strong one. I was a little buzzed at the bar, I felt a little lurchy, so I waited a while and drank a bunch of water before I took off. I walked back to the car, my responses were a little bit off, but I thought I could drive (probably a mistake). I drove home, perfectly, kept my car perfectly between the lines, drove very legally and all that, though I had a little haze. At a couple of points I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t be driving, but I plowed on anyway and reached home just fine. A couple hours later I was home on my house, sobered up, and I realized I probably shouldn’t have been driving.

Mind you, I just turned twenty-one and just started drinking after pledging myself to wait until I reached legal age. Apparently I’m a lightweight drinker, and I get a reaction from one or two beers. Now, considering that, I’ve never been drunk before. I’m thinking my unintended minor drunkeness must have influenced my decision. Was this just a mistake or did I commit a mortal sin? I know you can’t commit such a sin by accident, and I didn’t intend to. I feel like a just made a rookie mistake, and now I know my limit, and I won’t do it again. Is this even worthy of confessing, and should scrupulous me skip receiving the Blessed Sacrament?

In terms of confession, I have no idea. Haven’t you seen the ad slogan though? Buzzed driving is drunk driving

Too many people die and kill other people every day because of “a rookie mistake”. Please, for your own safety AND those of others PLEASE designate a driver or use an alternate method of transportation

1800taxicab.com/

 

[fbl9]

Definitely a light weight drinker if you gut a buzz off of one beer As long as you were under the legal limit, which i’m assume you were if it was only one beer, you’re fine…no sin committed.

Given my body weight one beer would put me close, if not over, to a 24hr suspension.

 

[jpjd]

Yes, it is worthy of confessing. Please do not make excuses for yourself. You drove while buzzed which is a euphemism for driving while drunk. You were a danger to others and yourself. I had a friend who was killed by a drunk driver and it is such a senseless death…so sad. Please do not risk lives again. If you have even one drink, find a designated driver.

 

[thunderboom]

Thanks guys for your advice. I appreciate it. However, I’d like to make a distinction between doing something stupid and sinning mortally, i.e., being damned to Hell for all eternity. I don’t think what I did merits this, nor do I feel that I should refrain from receiving, but I have a scrupulous conscience so I need some advice.

Definitely a light weight drinker if you gut a buzz off of one beer As long as you were under the legal limit, which i’m assume you were if it was only one beer, you’re fine…no sin committed.

That’s how I feel, my driving was fine, I told myself I would pull over the instant I knew I couldn’t do it. I only felt abnormal, I performed fine. That’s why I feel that while I’ll mention it in my next confession, I’m not going to abstain from the Eucharist until then.

Glad your home safe. Not to mention the rest of the people out last night.

Buzzed driving? I’ve certainly done it. So, I’m not casting any stones here. Whether it was a self centered act. Or the result of poor planning.

I’d mention it.

In terms of confession, I have no idea. Haven’t you seen the ad slogan though? Buzzed driving is drunk driving

Too many people die and kill other people every day because of “a rookie mistake”. Please, for your own safety AND those of others PLEASE designate a driver or use an alternate method of transportation

1800taxicab.com/

Thanks, guys. But is a “rookie mistake” with no ill intention and no poor consequences actually a mortal sin? I know what I did was stupid, I admitted I now know my limits and I won’t do it again. But a mortal sin, that separates me totally from the grace of God, when it was just a mistake that taught me a lesson? That’s the real question I’m asking here.

Given my body weight one beer would put me close, if not over, to a 24hr suspension.

Yes, it is worthy of confessing. Please do not make excuses for yourself. You drove while buzzed which is a euphemism for driving while drunk. You were a danger to others and yourself. I had a friend who was killed by a drunk driver and it is such a senseless death…so sad. Please do not risk lives again. If you have even one drink, find a designated driver.

Worthy of confessing in my next confession, or before I receive? I’m not making excuses, I freely admit that I did something stupid and made a poor decision.

Thanks, everyone.

 

[LoyalViews]

Before you receive, I’d mention it in confession.

We have a zero tolerance law here, and the police are always having random road-side checks, as we have a history of people being killed from slightly-intoxicated drivers.

You’d be surprised how little alcohol could throw a driver off.

In any case, you never had an accident, thanks be to God! But I’d ask your priest if it was sinful or not!

 

[TylerEast]

Think of that as more of a…slippery slope warning. One thing leads to another, suddenly someone get’s hit by your car. Correct me if I’m wrong but murder is something that could keep you out of heaven…?

Worrying about whether or not it’s in the rule book and not whether or not its morally okay (reward or not) kind of defeats the purpose of trying to be a good person don’t you think?

Noted though. Sorry for answering slightly off topic. Drunk driving is kind of a hot button for me

 

[jpjd]

Worthy of confessing in my next confession, or before I receive? I’m not making excuses, I freely admit that I did something stupid and made a poor decision.

I think drunk driving is very serious. I suggest refraining from receiving until you confess.

 

[fbl9]

Think of that as more of a…slippery slope warning. One thing leads to another, suddenly someone get’s hit by your car. Correct me if I’m wrong but murder is something that could keep you out of heaven…?

Worrying about whether or not it’s in the rule book and not whether or not its morally okay (reward or not) kind of defeats the purpose of trying to be a good person don’t you think?

Noted though. Sorry for answering slightly off topic. Drunk driving is kind of a hot button for me

Not to mention if one was invovled in an accident that’s not their fault but have been drinking the accident is considered the drinking person’s fault.

To the OP.
From what you have wrote it sounds like you were legally over .06 BAC and that’s against the law. You knew your condidtion and made the wrong choice. So yes you wilfuly sinned. As to the degree of sin i can not comment.

 

[thistle]

Hey guys - another mortal sin question! Just what you wanted on a fine Sunday morning!

So last night I was hanging out at the bar where my friend works. I had one beer, though a strong one. I was a little buzzed at the bar, I felt a little lurchy, so I waited a while and drank a bunch of water before I took off. I walked back to the car, my responses were a little bit off, but I thought I could drive (probably a mistake). I drove home, perfectly, kept my car perfectly between the lines, drove very legally and all that, though I had a little haze. At a couple of points I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t be driving, but I plowed on anyway and reached home just fine. A couple hours later I was home on my house, sobered up, and I realized I probably shouldn’t have been driving.

Mind you, I just turned twenty-one and just started drinking after pledging myself to wait until I reached legal age. Apparently I’m a lightweight drinker, and I get a reaction from one or two beers. Now, considering that, I’ve never been drunk before. I’m thinking my unintended minor drunkeness must have influenced my decision. Was this just a mistake or did I commit a mortal sin? I know you can’t commit such a sin by accident, and I didn’t intend to. I feel like a just made a rookie mistake, and now I know my limit, and I won’t do it again. Is this even worthy of confessing, and should scrupulous me skip receiving the Blessed Sacrament?

Its very simple. If you have been drinking (even one beer) do not drive. Even one drink can affect different people in different ways. The fact you felt some effect means you should not have driven. You endangered your own life and the life of others.
I have had several friends killed by drivers who thought it was okay to drive when they had had only one beer.
YES you should confess this.

 

[LilyM]

It is true that alcohol affects people differently at various times depending on things like whether they’re drinking on a full or empty stomach, any medication they might be on, how well rested or otherwise they are, whether they have some other illness that might inhibit their ability to process alcohol and so on.

If in doubt you really shouldn’t have driven.

 

[jmcrae]

Mind you, I just turned twenty-one and just started drinking after pledging myself to wait until I reached legal age. Apparently I’m a lightweight drinker, and I get a reaction from one or two beers. Now, considering that, I’ve never been drunk before. I’m thinking my unintended minor drunkeness must have influenced my decision. Was this just a mistake or did I commit a mortal sin? I know you can’t commit such a sin by accident, and I didn’t intend to. I feel like a just made a rookie mistake, and now I know my limit, and I won’t do it again. Is this even worthy of confessing, and should scrupulous me skip receiving the Blessed Sacrament?

If you drink, don’t drive.

If you have to drive, don’t drink.

Next time, take a cab or have a friend bring you to the pub or party, and then get a safe ride home. That way, you can learn your limits without putting anyone else at risk.

 

[thunderboom]

Thanks, guys, again. However, I want to again point something out: I’ve been perfectly clear and honest that I made a bad decision and that I’m not going to do it again. Right? So, my question was about whether I sinned mortally. I don’t think I did, because I thought I was in control of myself at the time. I would appreciate it if you all would focus on that aspect of my question - I already know it was stupid. I’m trying to figure out if my mistake was a mortal sin. But I think I’m pretty clear on that already, thanks.

 

[jmcrae]

Thanks, guys, again. However, I want to again point something out: I’ve been perfectly clear and honest that I made a bad decision and that I’m not going to do it again. Right? So, my question was about whether I sinned mortally. I don’t think I did, because I thought I was in control of myself at the time. I would appreciate it if you all would focus on that aspect of my question - I already know it was stupid. I’m trying to figure out if my mistake was a mortal sin. But I think I’m pretty clear on that already, thanks.

At some point, you made a sober decision to take an unnecessary risk - to take a drink without knowing what your tolerance is.

After you were drunk, you were no longer able to discern, so no - decisions you made while drunk are not mortal sins.

 

[clem456]

Thanks, guys, again. However, I want to again point something out: I’ve been perfectly clear and honest that I made a bad decision and that I’m not going to do it again. Right? So, my question was about whether I sinned mortally. I don’t think I did, because I thought I was in control of myself at the time. I would appreciate it if you all would focus on that aspect of my question - I already know it was stupid. I’m trying to figure out if my mistake was a mortal sin. But I think I’m pretty clear on that already, thanks.

What do you expect, asking the question on an internet forum???
Ask the priest in the confessional if you want the nuts and bolts answer.
And don’t drink and drive, please.

 

[clem456]

At some point, you made a sober decision to take an unnecessary risk - to take a drink without knowing what your tolerance is.

After you were drunk, you were no longer able to discern, so no - decisions you made while drunk are not mortal sins.

I don’t know about that… Drunkeness excuses mortal sin?
That one has been tried… a lot.

 

[thunderboom]

What do you expect, asking the question on an internet forum???
Ask the priest in the confessional if you want the nuts and bolts answer.
And don’t drink and drive, please.

You’re right, of course. I’m a little scrupulous, and I didn’t get a chance to see a priest before Mass today. But thanks.

 

[LilyM]

Thanks, guys, again. However, I want to again point something out: I’ve been perfectly clear and honest that I made a bad decision and that I’m not going to do it again. Right? So, my question was about whether I sinned mortally. I don’t think I did, because I thought I was in control of myself at the time. I would appreciate it if you all would focus on that aspect of my question - I already know it was stupid. I’m trying to figure out if my mistake was a mortal sin. But I think I’m pretty clear on that already, thanks.

You didn’t ‘think you were in control of yourself at the time.’ You said that even while you were driving you thought maybe you shouldn’t be doing it. In other words you weren’t sure that you were in control.

The point that those thoughts first entered your head is the point where you should have pulled off the road and called a cab. Or slept in the car for a few hours until you were sober. Or anything other than continuing to drive.