Please Use a Designated Driver When Consuming Alcohol

For the past few decades we’ve all heard the messages about Don’t Drink and Drive….to always use a designated driver if you’re out consuming alcohol. We’ve all heard them but how many people are actually listening to them? Well, some are and some don’t. If everyone was heading that warning there would be no DUI’s in America.

Last month we were out having dinner at a local bar and grill. Wife and I each had one cocktail with our meal. Just one. I was going to be driving and I limit myself to ONLY one drink if I’m going to drive. That’s my rule and it’s always followed. No exceptions! If I’m going to enjoy additional alcohol I arrange for someone else to drive. I feel that even with 2, 3 or even 4 drinks that drivers can be impaired. 

Just as we were leaving the restaurant we encountered a guy (another patron of the establishment) who was heavily intoxicated. You could smell the alcohol a mile away. His speech was slurred and he couldn’t walk in a straight line if he wanted to. I don’t know if he got that intoxicated there or perhaps he walked in like that and they refused to serve him. I don’t know the “before” story.

As a good citizen I tried to nicely talk to the man about getting someone else to come pick him up to drive him home. I told him if he didn’t have a ride available that I would give him a ride or I would call and pay for a ride to take him home. I explained that I didn’t feel comfortable seeing him get in his car and drive away. Not only for his safety, but others who will be out on the roads.

Well, as you can imagine…that discussion didn’t go over well. He was beligerent and swearing at me. He was argumentative and swore he had ONLY one drink. Obviously, he was drunk and wasn’t thinking clearly.

I eventually walked away because I felt that the entire situation was esculating. As soon as I got into my car I called the police. I gave them a description of him, information on his vehicle and our location. They asked me to keep tabs on the vehicle until they could get there. Luckily, the guy wasn’t a fast mover and fumbled around with his keyes and getting into his car. We followed at a distance as he weaved through the parking lot and got to the red light to leave the shopping center. Just as the light was turning green a police car sped ahead of us and got him to pull over. We kept on going and headed home. We did our part by reporting him to the local authorities.

Later that night I got a phone call from the officer who pulled the drunk guy over. He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested on the spot. The officer thanked me for being a concerned citizen and for doing the right thing. Lives may have been saved that evening…including the guy who was drunk.

The point of this story…if you see someone who is clearly intoxicated don’t be afraid to call the police. Report them! Take the time to do this!!! Getting these drunks off the road do indeed save lives! What I learned from this…next time I won’t confront the drunk instead I’ll just immediately call the police and let them handle it.