Getting a ride home with someone who has drinking

[MAV0524]

So you go out for the night with a friend or an individual from work… They insist on picking you up and on driving. They consume quite a few drinks and you suspect they may be past the legal drinking limit (legality is not the main point) but are not sure. For example, they are not obviously drunk. Is sinful or wrong of you to have them drive you home?

One reason why I don’t like depending on someone driving when you go out…

 

[PerfectTiming]

It’s stupid more than anything else. You shouldn’t get into a car driven by someone who has been drinking at all.

 

[Catholic90]

It is very stupid and irresponsible to get into a car to be driven by someone who has been drinking “quite a few drinks”. Call a cab. Your life may depend on it.

Someone who regularly drinks a lot may not show outward signs of intoxication, but may have a BAC of over the legal limit (0.08).

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Call a cab for both of you. Or take the keys and drive yourself (if you are sober) and return the person’s car the next day. If you find this happening regularly, then be up front about alternate transportation before you go out. Pick a designated driver that you can trust. Plan alternate activities that don’t involve drinking with those friends.

 

[JoArtist]

It isn’t worth betting your life on. If that person had quite a few drinks heck even just some to drink and you have any doubt, just call a cab.

 

[Bezant]

So you go out for the night with a friend or an individual from work… They insist on picking you up and on driving. They consume quite a few drinks and you suspect they may be past the legal drinking limit (legality is not the main point) but are not sure. For example, they are not obviously drunk. Is sinful or wrong of you to have them drive you home?

One reason why I don’t like depending on someone driving when you go out…

Whether or not it’s sinful is somewhat besides the point.

The other posters said it’s foolish to get into the car–and it is. But my question is, why didn’t you plan ahead? Why did you find yourself choosing between being stuck, and judging your friend’s sobriety?

Some people appear to handle alcohol better, but that doesn’t mean they’re fit to drive, and if they can’t, you unnecessarily placed yourself in a very risky situation.

The bottom line is, make a plan: not when you’re at the party, not when your friend’s sobriety is in question, and not when he’s offering you a ride. Sort out any potential problems before you leave home and make sure you can afford an independent ride home by taxi or (less ideally) public transportation.

Ideally, you should also pair up with at least one or two responsible people, but as anything can change in the course of the night, you shouldn’t depend on them as your last transportation option either.

 

[MAV0524]

Yeah, I should probably just tell him I’ll meet him there and drive myself. He doesn’t always have that much for his size, but he’s not really strict about it either. Kinda frustrating. I just felt kind of guilty about the situation and this has happened in the past with other people.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

It’s stupid more than anything else. You shouldn’t get into a car driven by someone who has been drinking at all.

Exactly.

There is no safe amount of alcohol, and impairment begins after one drink.

If you drink, don’t drive. If you drive, don’t drink. If you go out drinking with someone, make a plan BEFORE you start drinking involving asking the driver for his/her keys.

If worse comes to worse, DO NOT get into the car with a friend who has been drinking. If you can’t stop from driving, call 911 (yes, 911) and report your friend. Know the vehicle description, plate number, and where they are going. Tell the 911 operator that you know you’re friend has been drinking a lot. Yes, they probably will get caught, charged, have their licence suspended, have their car impounded, face possible jail time or get a hefty fine. They’ll likely blame you too for it all and hate you. But if you don’t do everything in your power to try to stop it and they kill someone, or themselves, you’ll blame yourself.