I haver a one drink limit even though at my weight and past experience I could put away much more. I really don't drink much more anymore because at my tolerance level for alcohol, I go broke before I get drunk.


Here's a story. I get a new job and the boss likes to take people out all the time to one of the best steakhouses in Columbus. I'm still pretty young and foolish and of course think i'll never die, kill anyone or get caught. I leave the place completely sauced, get in my car and decide to take the scenenc route home instead of the freeeway. So i'm driving along and at the point where this more scenic route crosses under the freeway, theres a sheriff's drinking and driving checkpoint before and on the bridge above. I count my lucky stars, pull over, call my girlfriend to come pick me up and haven't done it since. That would have been an expensive and devastating lesson to learn at that point in my life.

 

Maybe the better question is "why is she drinking every night?"

If she's going out every night alone, maybe there's a deeper loneliness or depression issue you could address instead.

Otherwise, why not carpool?

Or else go to the bars with her and you can take her home! Beer goggles FTW!!!

 

I could be wrong but it sounds like your friend is an alcoholic. If this is the case, the best way to prevent her from drinking and driving is getting professional help. Her parents should know before the problem gets out of hand.

That being said, in order for someone to be charged of DUI an officer has to have probable cause (when all facts or evidence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime has been or is being committed). In otherwords, unless she is subject to a blood, breath, or urine test or the standard field sobriety tests the officer will not be able to arrest her.

If you really want to report her to the police, you will have to wait until she gets drunk and gets behind the wheel. In most states, if you are drunk, behind the wheel, and have the keys in the ignition you can be charged (you dont have to be driving).

The NHTSA did a study and found that most people who drive while intoxicated do so more than 80 times a year! That is a SCARY statistic. Our parents, siblings, and children uses these roads too.

The sad truth (and you can ask any police officer this) is that EVERY person that I have charge DUIs with absolutely deny they are drunk, even after viewing the breathalizer tests.

Your friend will not stop drinking and driving until she gets into an accident or hurts someone.

In my opinion, the best you can do as a friend is let her family know. This will cost you her friendship. But if it keeps her alive (or others) I would do it. Her dad can atleast limit the use of her car and you can absolve yourself of any guilt if she hurts someone. She wont stop until she hurts herself or others, I've seen so many accidents caused by alcohol. And it's always after something horrible happens that makes people change

Good luck! Let us know how it turned out.

 

To me, a little buzz is different from being fully drunk. One or two beer may give a little buzz but if you're able to stand perfectly balanced, it's not strong enough to prevent from driving. The dangerous kind of drunk driving is when someone has lost coordination between the brain and the rest of the body. Sure, a little buzz can ever slightly slow down your reaction, but so does a restless night of sleep. That is not strong enough to prevent from driving. The .08 scale is very good in determining the difference between a little buzz and intoxication. After all, doctors had researched and come up with that scale. To me, a little buzz = one restless night of sleep; drunk = hallucination.

As for repeated drunk drivers, I have absolutely no tolerance for them. They should be sent to a Chinese jail and caned by them Chinese. American jail is too good for them.

 

I have to disagree with you to a limited extent, kumainu.

Yes, a light buzz is not horrible, but it's still a sign of impaired judgement and that is the problem. Balance sure..if you cant stand, you sure as hell cant drive. If you are buzzed, you are not at a level of awareness that may save your life (or that of others) when a split second reaction may be necessary.

Not to preach..I have, when I was younger, driven home when I shouldnt have. I made it ok those few times. One time I was way too far gone to have even considered it. The other times, I was lightly buzzed and felt "fine".
When I stopped to think about it and reflect on it, the only thing that kept coming to mind was "what the f*** was I doing". I dont do it anymore.

 

Ok, so since you're going to let her "get away" with driving drunk "one more time," since I also live in So Cal, can you at least tell me where she hangs out, so I can stay the **** out of her way?



**** drunk drivers.

Find new friends.

 

Turn her in, She will thank you in a couple years, even if she knows it was you who turned her in.

How would you feel if you didn't do anything and she killed herself along with an innocent driver one night?

Shitty but it's gotta be done.

 

-the dui thingy is driven by people on sope boxes and or those w/o a life. how about the drivers on cell phones.

-why do bars have parking lots, close em? if their patrons are drunk ask for a ticket, put it on your windsheild and leave your car parked on the street till saturday/ sunday noon.

-everyone thinks she will kill herself and ten other people, just like fox news.

-the court system and the police dont do good. this is not their purpose to fix anything. stay away.

-friends i dont like just leave, keep it simple. your friends... are you are on their clean up staff or do you run a self imporvement program (to bring friends up to standards). select the compatables to hang with.

 

Your friend needs rehab/intervention from what it sounds like. I would definitely call the cops on her. Like someone else mentioned....what if she was drunk and killed your mom or someone and you did nothing about it. That is not something I would want on my conscience....not when you could have intervened. She will thank you years from now.

 

I don't disagree there, but that also applies to not getting a full night of sleep, your reaction is a little bit impaired, but it doesn't mean you don't have to drive to work, etc. To me, a tiny buzz or not sleeping a full night shouldn't prevent driving altogether. Of course, one won't have the same level of reaction or alertness compared to being wide awake, fully rested, or completely sober/alert, but it shouldn't prevent driving altogether. Driving drunk is a different issue altogether, because the impairment level is timed exponentially.

Again, I have absolutely no tolerance for drunk drivers, especially repeated drunk drivers.