5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

5 questions:

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

4. If so, were you offended?

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

5 questions:

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

I've never hosted a party with alcohol involved. I know that my BIL and his wife drink a lot and when we do attend gatherings with alcohol they take turns on being the designated driver.

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

Kind of. When I was 20 I was on vacation in Cape Cod with an ex and his family. His family had spent the entire day drinking on Nantucket Island and were going to drive home (once we were off the ferry). I told them I didn't feel comfortable and that my ex or I should drive. They were so in offended they kicked us out of the summer rental and my ex and I had to drive back to NY at 4am on 2 hours sleep.

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

Once again, neither myself, my DH or our friends drink. So, no.

4. If so, were you offended?

If I did drink I would not be offended.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

N/A.

Message edited 2/2/2009 9:45:31 AM.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

Yes. I don't babysit people, but when it's time to leave, I'm mindful - and I speak up.

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

Yes. Twice.

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

No. I honestly don't think I ever would either -- for many reasons. One, some people ARE easily offended. Two, everyone I know is really mindful of drinking and driving and pretty much everyone always has a DD who doesn't drink at all. Three, b/c people can find that offensive and like "babysitting," I think I'd rather deal with a problem IF it arises, instead of just assuming people can't make good choices and they must defer to me. Finally, I think this could increase homeowner liability in the event of a DWI / drunk driving accident even more... (This is NOT a legal opinion. Just a thought...) Not only do you have your normal duty to make sure people don't leave your house smashed and drive home, you've now affirmatively and voluntarily assumed the role of determining who is and is not okay to drive. I wouldn't personally, affirmatively assume that role by having a key surrender party.

4. If so, were you offended?

N/A. If it happened to us, I think we'd find it weird. Neither my DH nor myself drink very much. When we go out and are driving, one of us is the DD and that means NO alcohol at all. Period. So there's really no reason to take our keys... but whatever, if the host did that, we'd just go along with it.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

N/A. I would sure hope that the host would make sure not to drink too much at a key surrender party. I personally would want whoever is making these decisions to NOT be drunk or buzzed...

Message edited 2/2/2009 9:54:39 AM.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

- if i notice that someone is too drunk to drive, i alaways offer to let them over or call them a cab, or find them a ride. that being said, i don't make it my responsibility to know who is drunk and who is not - or even who is over the limit and who is not. for one, i often have trouble telling when someone is drunk. and two, adults who are drinking should be responsible for their own actions.

if someone is OBVIOUSLY drunk i will definitely say something (and i did, last night).


2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

- no, not that i know of - although i DO know of situations (where i was not present) where that probably should have happened.


3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

- no

4. If so, were you offended?

- i wouldn't be offended. better SAFE than SORRY.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

- i would imagine that they would be relying on their own judgment as well as that of other guests that the host believes to be sober.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

Unless the party is in MY home, honestly, no - I'm not a babysitter. If I happen to notice someone is out of their mind, that's a different story, but I don't sit there watching how much everyone else is drinking all night .........

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

Of course -


3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

No - We're all adults.

4. If so, were you offended?

I'm sure if it ever happened at the TIME while wasted, I'd be annoyed - but I'd be grateful the next morning -

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

??

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

5 questions:

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?


*Only if it is a party in my house, or that I am hosting. I will try to keep track of everyone but they are adults and I am not a babysitter.


2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

*Yes, but this is for someone who was fall down blac out drunk.

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

*No

4. If so, were you offended?

*I would be, I am an adult - I don't drink and drive, if you don't trust me - then don't invite me.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

*This is where the problem is, are you supposed to perform sobriety tests in your living room?

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. yes

2. yes, I haven't but have witnessed a friend taking keys from someone

3. No.

4. I don't think I'd be offended, but maybe annoyed. As a PP said, I am an adult, I can be trusted to not drink and drive and those who know me well know that.

5. When I have seen people refuse to let someone drive, the driver was very obviously intoxicated and impaired.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

5 questions:

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

Yes I do.

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

I have.

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

No, but my friends know that I have lost a family member to a drunk driver so they know how I feel about it. It's not really something that has to be explained.

4. If so, were you offended?
I would never be offended by this.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

If we have a party, most people have one person that drives and the other doesn't..it's arranged before they come or while they are there.

Message edited 2/2/2009 10:26:43 AM.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. If someone is drunk I will say something but if I can't tell no I don't count everyone's drinks.

2. I wouldn't say force but I have taken keys away and said go to the second bedroom and sleep or I cook a massive meal for them so that they usually go to bed or stay up for a few more hours and pound water and eat and sober up.

3. No

4. I wouldn't be

5. See the answer to number 1.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

5 questions:

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

i cant say i ALWAYS do this... it depends on how much i have had to drink... but i can say that almost all of my friends are responsible enough NOT to drive if they dont think they can... and if i'm not watching others, SOMEONE is

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

yes

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

nope!


5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

i agree with PP who said this is a hard thing to enforce since not everyone has at home breathalizers...i'm just thankful our friends are responsible

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

Not really. I pay attention in general - like at the end of the night if someone is drunk and leaving, I would ask how they are getting home and try to help find them an alternative to driving if needed, but I don't monitor other people's drinking all day or ask them all in advance what their transportation plans are. I guess I assume they're all aware of their own situations and it's up to them to make good choices throughout the social event, just like I keep track of my own drinking, and make sure I either have a ride or stop after 1 drink. I don't expect other people to babysit me, and I don't do it for others.

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

I haven't - luckily, it's never come to that. Thus far my friends have always been okay with accepting a ride from someone sober or staying the night at someone's house, so I've never had to be forceful. I've seen other people I know be forceful about it when necessary though.

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

I've never hosted or been to a party like that.

4. If so, were you offended?

N/A - but I don't think I'd be offended. It's smart, really.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

N/A.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

5 questions:

1. When you're enjoying yourself with friends and family and there is alcohol involved, do you take stock of who has had too much to drink and how they are getting home?

most definitely. I don't watch so much during, but when it's time to go, an assessment is made.

2. Have you or someone you know ever forcefully taken keys away from someone?

yes.

3. Have you ever had a key surrender at a house party? The kind where you get them back only if you're ok to drive?

not yet, but I will going forward, as we live 70 miles away from most friends/family in hilly winding roads in prime deer country. it's a gauntlet SOBER, so I will be making sure people don't leave drunk. if they get offended. they won't be welcomed back. end of story.

4. If so, were you offended?

that would not offend me in the least.

5. And how did the host determine who was ok to drive or not?

I guess there is no surefire way to know, but as the host, I am usually the bartender..so I'll know who did 6 tequila shots an hour before the party ended.

basically, you watch and ask. If I feel I need to purchase an at-home breathilizer, I will.

I take this VERY seriously. I don't want to see my friends/family dead or in prison for killing someone else.

that is worth all of their ire and then some in my book.

Re: 5 Questions regarding driving after alcohol consumption

1. Not really. Only if there's someone noticably drunk.

2. No

3. No

4. N/A - but if we attended one I wouldn't care b/c I know I'd be fine to drive home. I don't drink very much and if I'm driving I limit myself to one maybe two glasses of wine. It depends on how long the party is. Also, if my husband is driving he doesn't drink anything alcohalic so he's usually the DD.

5. Basically by kind of keeping an eye on everyone. You can tell who's really impaired and who's not. Also, if you're the host most likely you'll be giving out the drinks (for the most part) so that should give you a general idea of who's has what to drink.