Miss Mango

When a group of friends go to a party and one is the designated driver, do you expect that the DD will abstain from alcohol completely, or that he or she might have a glass of wine, but not become inebriated?


Id only expect complete abstinence if the person doesnt drink alcohol. Otherwise, its up to the DD to limit their alcohol intake to a certain amount, and that limit is below drunken status, more like getting a bit tipsy (which depends on the person). Then the DD has to stop long enough before the night will end so they can sober up. Its a tricky calculation only if youre dealing with someone who doesnt know their limits and how long it takes for them to be okay to drive.

Theres always the consolation that if the DD decides to fall (or jump) off the wagon, a sober friend or cab can be called. Its also nice when the host of the party is okay with some people staying over to sleep it off

Plan9

A number of states of zero tolerance laws for drivers.

This is probably a good idea.

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Siege

Usually the rule for my circle of friends is, anyone driving can have a beer with dinner and that's it.

Since we're usually at a restaurant for over 2 hours, 1 beer isn't an issue.

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snowy

I think a beer or glass of wine with dinner is acceptable for some people who DD.

Personally, when I DD, I make sure we go to places where I can get a good cup of coffee or iced tea, and just enjoy those beverages instead. Though a person could figuratively blow .06 on a Breathalyzer in Oregon and be let go, most cops in this town take a zero tolerance stance on DUI, and will ticket you with whatever they can if you blow anything but .00. Being wise, I stick to non-alcoholic beverages.

I don't have to DD often, though, because during the school year we have a night bus service on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for students, free with university ID (and our IDs never expire, yay). I haven't used it yet, as our town is very walkable and/or cabs are cheap. But it's good to know it's there, for when we do go downtown.

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Willravel

I'm usually the DD, and I don't drink at all in that situation. Not one sip.

Cynthetiq

Like will, not even a sip.

as a DD in highschool I was the DD because I didn't trust anyone else to just have "one" or "I'm okay, I"ve had a couple, but it's been X hours..." It didn't matter to me, I alone knew how much I had to drink which was ZERO, and I always had a packed car of people to drive home.

Over the years, I changed my stance to a drink or two, but only early on during the party. Sometimes my wife may offer to drive home instead, which then gave me the ability to drink to my heart's content.

Now, I'm the DD again because I no longer drink.

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Shauk

I like to have a drink on occassion, but if I get suckered into a DD position, I get paid for it. I make people give me the equivilant of one drink per person that I'm driving. works out for me later in the nature that because I sacrificed something so they could have a good time, then next time I want to go drinking, my drinks are paid for.

fresnelly

I won't take a sip because I'm paranoid that I'll get over the limit by accident. I have no idea what 0.08 blood Alchohol actually feels like.

I've always felt bars should discount softdrinks for designated drivers.

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Plan9

Well, most bars I've been to give you free soft drinks for being the DD.

I did DD for three years in the Army. Then I got married and started drinking.

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analog

For the two (literally) times I've ever not been the designated driver, the person who was driving was a totally trusted individual and was allowed 2 beers all night. That's because, no matter how you want to complain about beer, simple biochemistry dictates it takes about 1 hour for a person to fully metabolize the alcohol in one serving of alcohol (it's more if they weigh less, but this guy would not fit into that category by a long shot). If we get there at 10:30 and plan on being there until 2:30 at the minimum, having 2 beers in the first hour, hour and a half won't make a damn bit of difference.

And, that's assuming that he'd be impaired after 1, or even 2, which he is not. He barely feels 2, but that's not important.

if it were anyone else but him, I'd say none whatsoever, because I'm not sure who else I'd trust not to get carried away and "just have 1" too many times. But, it's only ever happened twice, so I don't think about it.

I've always been the designated driver, for several reasons:

1. I don't enjoy being drunk out and about, because then I rely on someone else to get home.

2. In general, I can't stand being a passenger in a car. I get anxiety attacks because it's a loss of control thing- basically the chemicals in my brain are only satisfied that I am a capable driver- and the people I encounter on the roads every day do nothing to help quell that idea.

3. I want everyone to have a good time, and that means making sure everyone does so safely. I once held my pocket knife to a guy's tire in order to get his keys from him (he was refusing to let them go)- and if he'd gotten in his car, he'd have been sitting on two flats.

As for me personally, I would have the one or two in the span of an evening- but i'd also usually be drinking water and maybe some soda, too. Not intentionally, but because they're refreshing beverages.

That was before. Since starting my training as a medic, not a drop of alcohol comes anywhere near me if i'm leaving my buddy's apartment, which is where I'd hang out and be able to crash if I was unable to drive home. The simple reason is, I don't want any question about it if I get pulled over- there is no alcohol of any concentration in my bloodstream, period.

Additionally, I've been trailing off in the amount I drink (which was only ever a few in any night, i didn't binge or anything) since the beginning of the year, and I stopped drinking altogether several months ago. I don't have a problem with it, I just don't get any enjoyment out of being drunk. I'm a fun enough guy without it. lol

Racnad

One drink per hour, and none at all for an hour prior to leaving.

Nimetic

Well I'm normally only the DD for a couple - does that count?

I'm quite ok with the DD having a drink. For sure, when we were students, the DD didn't drink anything, but that was because of our zero alcohol laws for probationary drivers (first 3yrs).

The local limit is 0.05. I'm quite confident that over a long night, I can have one or slightly more drinks (early) and not be inebriated.

MSD

It takes me 5 or 6 drinks in an hour to get me over the legal limit, and I've blown 000 on a breathalyser after 10-12 over four hours, so sipping one or two drinks as the DD isn't a problem for me.

abaya

Limit here in Iceland is 0.02... no messing around whatsoever.

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ShaniFaye

If Im DD I have zero alcohol, Im agreeing to put their life in my hands, Im not risking it at all

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LazyBoy

My opinion is skewed, because my grandfather was killed by a drunk driver, so I'm a HUGE advocate of *zero tolerance*.

DD=don't drink

-Will

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Seer666

One beer at the start of the night, then I'm done when I DD.

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Jinn

I used to abstain completely from drinking if I was driving, out of courtesy towards my soon-to-be-passengers. Ultimately I realized I was cheating myself out of something for truly no perceptible benefit.

I don't think anyone should be basing a decision about whether they're still good to drive on "how they feel." Alcohol metabolization is not about how you feel or how fast you think your reaction time is. Even if your inebriated reaction time is .500, you can still get a DUI.

Knowing that metabolization occurs roughly at 1 beer / 1 shot per hour, I follow the same rule:

Considering I'm a 230 pound man with a fast metabolism, I know (and have measured) that 1 drink per 1 hour holds consistently for me. The highest I've seen after drinking 1 per hour was .04, well under the limit.

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Bill O'Rights

DD=Designated Driver= Don't Drink

Isn't that the whole point?

If you're the DD, you have chosen to take on the responsibility of not drinking, in order to get your compadres home safely, and with no interference from the law. Right? I don't see the problem with taking one night off.

So, yeah...0 alcohol for the DD.

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Glory's Sun

This is the reason they have cabs.

I've never been a DD..and never will be.

however, I guess if we had a DD, it would be acceptable to have a few depeding on how long we were there. If it was to be a short time, then none, if 2 hours.. one or two beers would be fine..

:shrug:

Jenna

It depends on how old the person is. If they're 21, then no, they can have up to their legal limit with driving. And here in Wisconsin, that's like one or two drinks at the most.

If they're underage, yes, I expect them not to drink.

amonkie

For me .. DD = 0. The way I look at it.. if you're going out to drink and everyone wants to participate.. pay the freakin $20 and get a cab and then there's no hard feelings, PLUS you get to have the peace of mind.

Also, many bars will provide free non alcoholic drinks to a DD, but only if the DD has zero alcohol.

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spindles

same in Oz - a lot of bars give the DD free soft drinks.
I usually drink close to home, or at least close to public transport (there is a train station 3 minutes from my house). On the few occasions where we are going out in the car, we decide who is driving home and that person limits their intake (my wife is not a heavy drinker at the best of times, but I'd be ok having a beer or two over an evening).

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