[QUOTE=SIIK2NR,Apr 10 2008, 10:45 PM] Unless you have less than a few years in the service your Military career will suffer from this point on.

 

I was in the military and on a destroyer. My estimate was that about 10% or maybe a little less were alcoholic.
We spent 6mo out of a year at sea at a minimum.
Do you believe that these members of the drinking Navy could possibly go six months yearly without a drink?
The answer is no. Were any of the sailors ever caught drinking or drunk?
The answer again is no. They had their daily booze and taught themselves to drink only to the edge of drunkeness.
They act normal and seem normal and only their very closest associates actually knew the truth.
The point I'm trying to make is this- On your way home from work pick out a neighborhood bar and notice some of the cars in the parkng lot.
Do this on a daily basis and you will begin to notice a few of the same cars everyday.
The drivers of these cars are like the sailors who know exactly how to drink. They seldom have problems with the law and if they are ever involved in a crash, it's the fault of the other driver.
This might not save them from a charge of DUI but this situation is really a rarity because these simi drunks are so careful this seldom happens. These type of drinkers never pass out, never stagger or stumble or ever slur their speech. The hold 9-5 jobs without problems and often are happy family types.
The problem is the weekenders, the celebraters, the person who rarely drinks anything and then decides to have a few. These are the inexperienced amatures that are creating the carnage on the roads of America and not the experienced and thoughtful daily drinker.
We've all heard the saying "give me one for the road"
There seems to be a real and actual benefit if everyone really did have one for the road. Most people become better drivers after only one drink.
If your intent is to drink and drive then you must learn an absolute limit.
It's also very helpful to understand the tolerance of your local police department for this type of behavior. If they know you personally, they should also believe they never saw you drunk.
I personally don't drink. The consequences of a mishap coupled with the laws are just too steep nowadays to risk a drink or two on the way home from work.
I was at one time this type of drinker. I drank and drove daily for years.
even had a couple fender benders from less attentive drivers than myself. never charged with a crash Never had a DUI .
One question to the OP. What did they stop you for? If you were speeding or weaving you must understand you were acting like an amature.
Don't take my critisism as an insult. Life is live and learn.

 

Agreed. Seriously... stop repeating the same message one after another. He is facing the consequences, and doesn't need anymore same shits spitting at him. Put yourself in his shoes and think about it. People make mistakes, but not all got the guts to disclose.

 

Toney, you did the right thing by posting your experience. It takes a big man to admit to something as serious as this. Hopefully others can learn from your mistake. In addition to the penalties you listed, one could end up paying the ultimate price: the loss of their own life or the loss of others'. Be thankful that you were stopped when you were. Use this setback as an opportunity for good.






"Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"

 

Paragraphs please.

 

What you are talking about is "functional alcoholism". The thing is, that's rarely a stable situation. It may last for a few years, but eventually things start taking their toll, and the person involved becomes less and less functional.

The "weekenders" (aka the "amateurs") do get nailed for their share of DUIs, and do cause their share of tragedy. But another group that does even more damage is the tail end of the "functionals". They are the ones slipping over the edge. These are the people who are driving with suspended licenses, and who get picked up for DUI while they are still waiting for a trial date to come up on their previous DUI. These are the ones who show up drunk to court. These are also usually the ones who plow into somebody with a BAC of 0.45% and never even know they hit someone. Their normal BAC is enough to put a non-drinker into a coma.

 

ban alcohol and legalize marijuana

 

Unless things have changed, you can overcome this if your enlisted. If your an officer, it may become difficult or impossible to advance in rank.
A first/second Luetenant that stays in might find it impossible to advance beyond Major.

 

I couldn't have said it any better

 

^^ My Uncle is one of those guys. He starts drinking as soon as he gets up and doesn't put the bottle down until he goes to sleep. He holds a steady job, drives everywhere, functions normally. He's never had one DUI. My family as a whole knows of his drinking and we are constantly on his ass about quitting. He's over 50 now and has been doing this since his early 20's. His liver has given him problems starting about 2 years ago I believe. If he continues, I give him another 3 - 5 years before his liver fails completely. Drinking "professionally" or being an "amateur" has no rewards.