How Much Is Too Much

I couldn't help but take Robin's suggestion from a recent thread.

With the holidays upon us with a spirited vengence, and the fact that Mickey Metro is doing their annual due, how weary are you of driving after a couple of glasses of wine or a couple of cocktails.

As Mike Myers character on SNL would say "Discuss Amongst yourselves"....

As a "party boy" of the 80's club scene in Nashville, and Alan a party boy of the 80"s and 90" in NYC and Boston (and now Louisville), we both can attest to the fact that we probably partook too much on a Friday or Saturday ourselves. Albeit ill advised now, we tend to know when to call Yellow Cab.

Weary?
If you're asking if I'm leary of driving after two drinks in a night, then youbetcha. One glass, two hours minimum and I'll still drive. More drink or less time, then no way no how. Oh and there has to be food. No food, no drinking.

Now, back in the day, when I was younger and stupid, I drove many times when I shouldn't have. Nothing ever happened, and I'm really not into taking that chance ever again.

If I know I'm driving I'll only have 1 glass. But I have a fairly low tolerance anymore. Anything more is too risky for me.

I've been cutting back more and more as I age. I was allowing myself 1 drink before driving home. I seem to have more problems with my night vision now so, no drinks for me after dark unless someone else is driving.

My wife & I will occasionally drink a tall draft beer each or share a bottle of wine when we're out but we rarely drink more than that unless we're hosting a party at home. When I was a bit younger I would drink more heavily & occasionally drive home with a good buzz. However, neither my wife or I do that these days because you also have to take in to consideration the fact that someone could hit you. If either of us drink more than the amount stated above, the other is the designated driver. It's just not worth the risk.

Best DWI Story ever...

When I lived in MN I used to work with a guy named Ratfield...We called him "Rat" for short. So one fall afternoon Rat gets off work and decides he's going to South Dakota to go pheasant hunting. So he goes home and grabs his shotguns and a bunch of ammo and starts out of town. Passing by the local watering hole he sees his friends car parked out front and decides to stop and have a drink or two before hitting the road. Well one drink turned into quite a few, the end result being that he decided to postpone hunting until the next day...That evening, on his way home from the bar, Rat gets pulled over and pegs the blow-o-meter at around .20+. So they confiscate his shotguns, tow his car and haul him off to jail, where an hour or so later his girlfriend posts his bail and carts him off to the house.

Segue about 6 hours after getting out of the Hoosegow...Rat gets up and decides it's time to go hunting. So his girlfriend takes him over to the impound lot, he bails his car out and drives over to the local cop shop to reclaim his guns. He walks in just as the cop who arrested him about 7 hours before is getting off work. The cop says "How'd you get here Rat" (They were on a first name basis you know) to which Rat replies "I drove". So they pull him back into the jail, give him another breath test and this time he blows .09. Rat didn't get to go hunting that day either...Only feller I know who ever knew who got two "Du-ees" on one drunk. Hellva guy.

It just goes to show...

I was arrested for DUI when I was about 22 or 23. I had left Victoria Station (and I DID have too much to drink) in the company of a nice but older man that I was dating at the time. We both had driven to the restaurant so after prime rib dinner and a couple grasshoppers we exit to our respective cars. I got a sweet kiss good night then we got into our cars and left the parking lot (both of us living in the same general direction.) Not 5 minutes later the blue lights came on behind me. I got stopped and ordered into the cop car. No sobriety test, no brethalizer (I doubt that I would have passed either) just into the squad car where I was driven downtown to General Hospital to take a brethalizer test there. While there the cop stalled for time before giving me the test. We bummed around the hospital, peeked in the morgue, walked the hallways THEN took the test. I was borderline. I overheard the cop and the guy giving me the test talking afterwards. "Why didn't you bring her in for her test right away? You'll never convict on this!" He answered, "I never wanted to convict her, just keep her from following some a***hole home. "
If I could meet that cop today I'd give him my thanks.

I have an acquintance that has picked up two DUI's and seeing how expensive those run, I don't drink if there is any chance I may have to drive. Said friend managed to miss getting a third one, and losing her freedom, not too long ago. She got into a wreck after a night of drinking and it was in front of a waffle house...so she hoped out of her car, left it in the middle of the road and went to eat. Guess the other driver thought she was going inside to call in the accident. It was a few hours before an officer drove by and saw the wreck, by then she was more sober.

I seldom drink when out and never more than one, I don't want to pay the fines/insurance she has had to pay (~$25,000 for both), but more importantly, I want to be alert enough to watch out for people like her! She's been caught twice, but I know there have been many more times when she drove and shouldn't have.