Many of us have that one friend that tends to drink in excess and then has no qualms about getting behind the wheel of a car. You may try to encourage them to find another way home, but they insist that they are fine to drive. Sometimes it’s hard to tell, and sometimes they are obviously drunk but there is no success in trying to reason with a drunk person.
So what can be done in this instance, when you don’t want to let your friend drive home, but they are giving you are a hard time and insisting that they are going to drive anyway? The following is a list of ideas for helping you prevent your friends from drunk driving.
Offer Them a Place to Sleep
If it’s your house, then you can offer your friend a place to sleep for the night. Take their keys at the beginning of the night to ensure that they won’t be driving anywhere until they are sober. If they try to leave, offer them a bed or a couch to lay on. Chances are, if they are drunk enough they will pass out and forget about driving. Or, offer them some tasty food to distract them while they sober up.
Call a Cab
If you find your friends attempting to drink and drive more than once, then consider programming the phone number of a cab company into your phone to have on hand. Make sure to pay the cab driver ahead of time and arrange a way for your friend to get their vehicle back in the morning. If your friend is still protesting, consider taking the cab ride with him or her.
Drive Their Car Home
If you can’t get a cab or your friend refuses to take one, you or another sober person can help get their car home. This will require two sober drivers, since one person will need to bring the car home and the other to bring the driver back. If you are at all questioning the sobriety of you or your sober driver, then it is a good idea to avoid this idea.
Talk to Them
If your friend is not someone who will listen to your advice while drunk, sit them down while sober. If this is a repeat offense, have them take responsibility for their actions. Tell them that their actions not only affect their safety, but also cause you concern for their well-being. The best way for someone to point out to someone that they have a problem is to speak with them directly. Knowing that their choices have consequences outside of themselves will help them understand the gravity of the situation.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a drunk driving accident, it is important to contact a lawyer. Revelli & Luzzo are top DUI lawyers and would be happy to represent you in court. Contact us today to learn more.
