Be A Responsible Drunk

[Gabbylittleangel]

The "Don't drink and drive" campaigns of years past have taken on a new light in the past few years.
The message is not "Don't drink" but more along the lines of "Be a responsible drunk".
In this area, during holidays when people are likely to be drinking, the topic becomes a news feature. I just watched one report that interviewed a bartender who will give drunk customers cab fare. There is a "Tow to go" program that is sponsored by a local TV station, several cab companies and towing services. The idea there is that the drunk is to make a phone call, and they will come and tow his car home, and give him a ride. There is even a commercial that points out that it is easy to spot someone that has had way too much, but what about the guy that just has one too many: reminding folks that "Buzzed driving is drunk driving"


What is your opinion?
Are drunks responsible enough to call someone and say "Come and get me"?

 

[handy]

I hope that these measures are effective at getting some of the drunks off the road. I do like the commercial about it being easy to spot the guy who has had way too many, but what about one too many? But, I don't think any adCouncil PSA's are going to do much regarding the problem.

Frankly, as a society, we tolerate drunken driving too much. Folks are always going to drink and drive. And so many drunks who kill others are repeat offenders. Why? Because for the most part, all they get is a slap on the wrist. I get weary of them taking away the driver's licences of drunks. Why don't they take the car keys instead? Why are those who kill others while driving drunk treated differently than any other murderer? Their victims are just as dead, and the impact on the families left behind are just as bad.

As I just posted on the prayer board, my friend Karin from High School, was killed last week, when a guy travelled over 4 lanes of traffice and smashed into her head-on. They are waiting on the blood alcolhol test, although witnessess and the police say that the smell of alcolhol was strong on the guy. Likely, once the test results are in, he'll be arrested. If they do bring charges against this guy, what are the odds that after a couple of years, he'll be right back to drinking and driving again?

We have a system where if someone uses a gun, for a crime, they go to prison. Isn't a car traveling at high speeds just as deadly as a gun?

I'm not speaking of vengence here. I'm just trying to figure out why we are so tolerant of people endangering and killing other people, and somehow it's OK because the killer was drunk. If anyone who is caught drinking and driving faced severe penalities, and enforced drug/alcholhol rehab, perhaps then more people would think twice before drinking and driving.

 

[Vic C.]

In Honduras, the crime for drinking while intoxicated was... death. :o

I'm not condoning capital punishment for this crime, but it should not be tolerated nonetheless. :-? A person who becomes drunk and then drives, is not a responsible person. Be responsible... don't get drunk! :smt018

 

[A-Christian]

What is your opinion?
Are drunks responsible enough to call someone and say "Come and get me"?

Depends on the person. There are people that do realize when it wouldn't be a good idea to drive and proceed to make arrangements to get home. Having said that, I will add that getting falling-down drunk is not a reponsible act.

 

[Rick W]

Our society tolerates alcohol, rescinding prohibition due to the reaction demonstrates that. To me it ranks as the most destructive drug out there, maybe due to it's popularity or people think they can control it.
Sure, there are those that will have one drink and quit but there is far too much abuse of the drug. We've eliminated tobacco commercials and I believe ads for alcohol really should take the same route.

"Drink responsibly" is not a campaign, it's from the alcohol industry tacked on to their ads to distance themselves from those that will abuse their product and to make the ads look acceptable and proper. You'll see "Drink responsibly" after glorification of the product.

Driving drunk is not the worst issue concerning drinking. Domestic upheaval due to the drug is something not publicized and in my opinion this the the most destructive result of drinking. There is also the personal health aspect of course but it's what alcohol does to the innocent I'm talking about. Yes, driving drunk claims the lives of the innocent but so does domestic destruction in a way that we don't care to focus on. Why? I don't know. We'll try to take care of the problem after the fact but a campaign to prevent it in the first place is something I don't see happening.

 

[handy]

I agree with you, Potluck, and have often argued (vehemently) with persons wanting to legalize all drugs to just look at all the negative effects in families and in society that our legal drug has.

 

[Rick W]

It may be prudent to look at the reason some drugs were outlawed in the first place.
Alcohol cannot be outlawed, we learned that from prohibition. But why we can't treat it the same as tobacco I don't know.
We need, as a responsible society, to focus on the effects of alcohol on family and relationships in terms of lives "lost" in the same manner we look at the physical destruction as to driving while drunk.

Yes, it's the abuse of the drug but it's the abuse that is not given the attention it really needs. And alcohol is definately addictive.

 

[tim-from-pa]

What is your opinion?
Are drunks responsible enough to call someone and say "Come and get me"?

Oftentimes, no. One thing I found when I drink is that after a few one feels good. Then I noticed that if "one more" does not make me feel any more intoxicated, or maybe even a little less, then that is when there is too much saturation there and I stop.

Having said that, I think many, if not most people, "think" with their feelings and notice that they do not feel drunk. They may even argue the point. They have a few more and feel they can have even more. They are too drunk to feel drunk in other words and the feeling reverses itself to start feeling sober again.

Thank God He has given me a mind where even in such a state I can reason enough to stop, and I never, ever drive in that condition. I let my wife do the driving (as she usually does anyway including long trips) whenever we are in social situations where alcohol may be served. I've never gotten so bad that I lost my memory or passed out. That would be dangerous, but many people boast of such experiences as if it's funny. It's not---- the liver is being overworked and is a dangerous situation if that happens.

 

[darkwater]

In line with the buzzed driving commercials.

At least with me, when I'm at the "buzzed stage" I would certainly have no problem calling someone to come get/tow me home. Programming the number in the cell phone would make it even easier.

People who get entirely wasted, though, I don't know. At that level, they generally don't have a clue what they are doing at the moment let alone any plans they made earlier that night.

If it gets anyone home safely that otherwise wouldn't have, then it seems a good idea to me.

 

[cyberjosh]

Since I haven't seen a single Scripture here yet, I'll offer, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Drinking is fine if in moderation, being drunk however is a waste -dissipation - and a sin.

~Josh

 

[darkwater]

That still doesn't change the fact that people will get drunk and some will drive home. Can there be a chance of them calling someone for a ride? That seems to be the bigger question.