Stopping a friend from driving while under the influence of alcohol can be one of the most important decisions to make. However, it's not always easy or possible to get a drunk guy to take the necessary precautions. This article describes some actions you can take to make him think and some steps you can take, even if you don't see things the same way. Most important of all is being able to recognize a dangerous situation and take the initiative, even if it means deciding for your friend.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Talk to the Drunk Friend and Stop Him from Driving
Step 1. Act promptly
Don't wait until the night is over when your friend is tired and aggressive enough not to listen to you. If you have noticed that he has already drunk too much and that, as is always the case with drunks, he cannot understand that he should leave the car keys to another person, act quickly to avoid a scene or cause an unnecessary conflict.
The worst thing that can happen is that you have been too cautious and that you eventually give the keys back to the person who is sober, giving you a good laugh
Step 2. Tell your friend that he shouldn't drive at all
Perhaps you will need to act more determinedly than you are used to and perhaps you will need to handle the accusations that it can throw at you that you are ruining the fun or trying to take control. Be prepared to respond appropriately and do not experience his offenses personally. Remember that alcohol is actually "talking", be polite and keep calm. Simply tell him that you are taking care of him and that you are acting like this because you are trying to avoid potentially dangerous situations for him or for other people.
- Always refuse to get in the car with him; is another gesture to let him know that you are serious and that you do not trust his ability to drive the car.
- If the situation permits, try to lighten the conversation with some brilliant jokes or comments. While continuing to firmly argue that he can't drive, you can say phrases like, "We'll talk a lot longer about this evening!" or: "Thank goodness that I too am as obstinate as you are!". This way, you make the conversation less burdensome and prevent it from sounding like a reprimand.
- If there is a person nearby who has an even closer relationship with the friend, inform them of the possible risks; the drunk individual may trust his words more and feel more comfortable with someone he has known for longer.
Step 3. Be determined
You may not know whether or not you will succeed, but it is important to keep a firm stance on the warnings you are throwing. Ask the drunk person to repeat what you say, to make sure they have some awareness of what is going on. For example: "I'm asking you not to drive the car now and we're all here to help you find another means of transportation to get home. Do you understand me?" If your friend tries to ignore your fears, don't give in, but find other arguments and reasons to convince him not to get behind the wheel.
- Speak to him quietly and quietly so that your warning message reaches him in a clear and understandable way.
- Don't say something embarrassing or downplay it to avoid triggering a possible conflict and setting off a scene. For example, don't make statements like: "It's such a nuisance that you never know how to handle alcohol"; instead try to express yourself differently, for example: "We all want to see you leave the party safely".
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Do not give in to alternative solutions he may propose, such as drinking a coffee or taking a cold shower before driving; these remedies do not work to eliminate alcohol from the body.
If he is considering this option, remind him that although he may feel able to drive, he may be subjected to a blood alcohol test, be fined, or have his license suspended while intoxicated, as alcohol is still in his system
Step 4. Remember who you are talking to
Since the person you are trying to convince is drunk, you need to speak slowly and explain the facts clearly; however, avoid sounding too patronizing; if he feels smugly treated, he may have a fit of pride and ignore your advice.
- Don't get carried away by the discussion trying to get your friend to listen to you and pay attention to everything you say. Your aim is not to be right or to force the other to do what you want, but to avoid a drunk driver from driving by any means, causing as little conflict as possible.
- Instead of making assumptions like, "Come on, don't be stubborn, you know the law …" you should say, "You know that driving after drinking too much is illegal and you could get in serious trouble. roadblocks on party nights and they may take a balloon test after looking you in the eye or after hearing your breath. You could get a fine, lose your driver's license or your vehicle could be blocked. You are risking penalties and even imprisonment., even if you're clean. It's not worth it, listen to me."
Step 5. Explain your feelings
Sometimes, the best way to communicate with a very drunk person is to have a conversation "from the heart." Sit next to your friend and show him that you want to say something very important. Tell him as honestly as possible how much you care about him and how special he is.
- Tell him you'd be destroyed, in case he had a serious accident that you could have avoided, this is your best argument. Express love and concern to him, use the anxiety you really feel to convince him not to drive.
- Say a few sincere phrases, such as: "We've been friends for a long time and I've learned to love you too much to let you hurt yourself."
Step 6. Get support from other people
You may not be able to convince a friend on your own, but a cohesive group of sober people may be able to keep them from driving; that way, even if you can't get him to reason, there are enough people involved to be sure that, somehow, you can stop them from getting behind the wheel. However, you should only use force as a last resort.
- Be polite and honest when seeking help from others. To avoid a scene and embarrass your friend, try to report clearly and objectively what is happening. Explain that you are concerned about their safety and are seeking help to prevent them from harming themselves and others as they try to get home.
- Stay calm, but let the people you are asking for help know that you will prevent the friend from driving drunk, with or without their intervention.
Method 2 of 2: Taking Preventive Measures with or without Friend's Consent
Step 1. Choose a designated driver
It is a person who frees others from the pressure of driving that evening and allows you to clearly identify who can or cannot drink. Try to assign this task before you start drinking, if possible. By accepting this responsibility in advance, you are doing a great favor to your friend who can return it to you on another occasion.
Step 2. Take the keys away from him
If you can't convince him with words not to drive, hiding the car keys from him is a good solution. You can do this in a number of ways, you can come up with an excuse and tell him you need to get something in the car or use it for a quick errand. Also consider the following "tricks":
- Tell him you have to use the car to go to the liquor store. Based on how drunk he is, he may forget this conversation soon after; even if you later tell him that you have changed your mind and are not going, avoid holding the keys that are now in your possession.
- Alternatively, wait patiently for him to distract himself by talking to someone else and find his keys, hide them but be careful not to forget where they are too!
- If you manage to get hold of the keys, move the car to an inconspicuous spot. That way, even if you can't convince him not to drive, the friend will feel frustrated not to find the car and hopefully decide to postpone the search until the next day.
Step 3. Call a taxi
If it's not a good idea to leave your friend without a car and alone nor can you handle it by driving yourself, it's best for everyone to call a taxi. Always pay for the ride in advance to avoid further complications and make sure the driver has precise directions to the destination.
- If you have time to drive your friend home and make sure there are no other problems, even better. By promising to accompany him before he leaves, you are able to more easily convince him to accept the ride.
- Remember that although the taxi is quite expensive, it is still better than paying a fine or having to deal with the aftermath of a car accident.
Step 4. Use public transport
If you know for sure that your friend's house is accessible by public transport, find your route. Avoid routes where you have to walk a lot, as the drunk person may have difficulty moving. The more help you can get, the better, so get other friends to accompany you to take the drunk one home. If there are enough people, you may even have fun and quickly release the tension from previous discussions.
Step 5. Start a sleepover
In many cases, the simplest thing to do is to invite your friend to sleep at home. If you are the host of the party, you shouldn't have any problems, but if you are in another place, make sure you have the approval of the hosts; alternatively, invite your friend to sleep at your house instead of letting him drive to his. Either way, use some incentives to convince him, like the promise of a good home-cooked breakfast for the next day and a warm bed.
If there is a comfortable place to sleep, show it to the drunk person. Seeing the possibility of lying down in a comfortable and welcoming place, he could finally convince himself not to drive
Step 6. Take your friend home by driving his car
If you also drove to the party, find a sober person who can follow you driving your car. That way, you can safely return to the party; the drunk friend can therefore sleep in his bed and with the car well parked on the driveway. Plus, you avoid the embarrassment of returning to the party venue the next morning to retrieve the car.
If things get worse and worse, you can call his parents or even the police to take him home as a last resort. By making this decision, you may be accused by the other attendees of ruining the party, but it is always better for the party to be remembered for this reason rather than a tragic car accident
Advice
- If you're throwing a party yourself, don't force others to drink (which they may only accept out of courtesy) and don't forget to offer soft drinks as well.
- You may feel bossy or nagging, but remember that you are doing an important task. You are being considerate and insightful, recognizing that there is a problem that needs to be addressed quickly for the friend's safety.
- If this person often gets drunk at parties and then always tries to drive, talk to him. Breaking the silence and taboo surrounding alcohol consumption is key to defeating the widespread belief that drunk driving is just a personal choice that doesn't harm others.
Warnings
- Be especially careful during the holiday season.
- Drink responsibly and respect local laws regarding alcohol consumption.
