Before you go out to drink
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Arrange your transportation or sleeping arrangements before you go out to drink.
It could save lives.
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- Arrange to sleep at your destination or on a friend's couch rather than driving home after drinking.3
When dropping someone off at their car, wait until you see their vehicle start before leaving.
This ensures they can drive away and aren't stranded due to a dead battery or locked keys.
5 people, independently
Do not fire guns into the air.
Bullets falling back down can be lethal due to terminal velocity.
one person who lived it
Ask the driver to help you retrieve your bag from the trunk so they exit the vehicle with you.
Having the driver out of the car prevents them from driving off while you are vulnerable.
one person who lived it
Turn on your headlights at night.
Failing to turn on headlights is a top sign associated with drunk driving.
one person who lived it
Ask bartenders, event staff, or friends to judge your sobriety before driving.
They can help judge you even when you are slurring words.
one person who lived it
Get drunk at home rather than at a bar.
It is way cheaper.
one person who lived it
Be aware that taxis may not be available in certain locations, such as ski towns, especially late at night.
Transportation options can disappear after specific hours in some areas.
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Pull over and sleep if you are too tired or high to drive safely.
one person who lived it
Do not walk home if you live somewhere where falling asleep outside could kill you.
one person who lived it
Be aware that intoxication may eliminate your frugality and increase risk tolerance.
One person reported their inner frugality disappearing and risk tolerance peaking when intoxicated.
- Based on one person's experience.
one person who lived it
Employers requiring shifts of 12 to 24 hours or more should provide cars, taxis, or advantages for public transport to prevent fatigue-related accidents.
Long shifts increase fatigue risks, making transportation support necessary.
one person who lived it
Be aware that stale alcohol breath is highly noticeable to police, supervisors, and coworkers the next day.
Breath odor persists and is easily detected by alert people.
one person who lived it
Do not drive to locations where you intend to consume alcohol.
one person who lived it
Check if your employer has a policy to reimburse transportation home from bars to reduce drunk driving incidents.
Some companies offer no-questions-asked reimbursement to prevent employees from drinking and driving.
one person who lived it
Recognize that alcohol tolerance alters your perception of impairment without lowering your blood alcohol concentration.
Tolerance changes reaction and feeling, not the actual BAC level.
one person who lived it
Recognize that drunk driving can lead to jail time, loss of professional licenses, and severe guilt from harming others.
2 people, independently
Focus on preventing harm to others over avoiding temporary irritation when deciding not to drive drunk.
Irritation is recoverable, but causing harm by swerving on the road is not.
one person who lived it
Avoid driving if you experience dizziness after drinking, even if you consumed a small amount over a long period.
one person who lived it
Treat cheap consumer-grade breathalyzers as potentially inaccurate and unreliable.
3 people, independently