Drunk driver - how to stop?

[fuji]

I have one friend that I go out drinking with sometimes. She lives far from downtown and drives in to the city. I always give her cab fare to get home, about $50 from downtown to her place. I actually see her off in the cab, and then head home myself to where I live, which is downtown.

I recently found out that on at least a couple of occasions instead of taking the cab home she has instead redirected the cab to her car, pocketed the difference, and driven home drunk. First that's my money in her pocket, second obviously she put people's lives in danger. Well maybe 2nd is 1st.

She claims that she waited until she was sober enough to drive, but judging from how much she would typically have had to drink, there is just no way that is possible.

I'm not sure what to do. I feel like inviting her out is inviting her to drive drunk. She's a lot of fun but obviously I would feel partly responsible if after coming out drinking with me she killed somebody on the way home.

I'd like to be able to hang out with her. I'm not going to be able to drive her home because obviously I'm drunk too, and apparently putting her in a cab is actually not enough to stop her behavior.

Suggestions?

 

[a 1 player]

Take her keys.

 

[Lou Siffer]

She can't drive without keys

 

[red]

I have one friend that I go out drinking with sometimes. She lives far from downtown and drives in to the city. I always give her cab fare to get home, about $50 from downtown to her place. I actually see her off in the cab, and then head home myself to where I live, which is downtown.

I recently found out that on at least a couple of occasions instead of taking the cab home she has instead redirected the cab to her car, pocketed the difference, and driven home drunk. First that's my money in her pocket, second obviously she put people's lives in danger. Well maybe 2nd is 1st.

She claims that she waited until she was sober enough to drive, but judging from how much she would typically have had to drink, there is just no way that is possible.

I'm not sure what to do. I feel like inviting her out is inviting her to drive drunk. She's a lot of fun but obviously I would feel partly responsible if after coming out drinking with me she killed somebody on the way home.

I'd like to be able to hang out with her. I'm not going to be able to drive her home because obviously I'm drunk too, and apparently putting her in a cab is actually not enough to stop her behavior.

Suggestions?

have her sleep at your place or drive her home.

 

[fuji]

have her sleep at your place or drive her home.

Haha, I think my wife would probably not agree to that plan. Taking her keys is probably the only realistic alternative, I am not looking forward to that conversation. She seems pretty determined to drive, I think I would have to take the keys by force, and that could get pretty ugly.

I guess I could make handing over the keys a precondition before the alcohol.

 

[a 1 player]

Haha, I think my wife would probably not agree to that plan. Taking her keys is probably the only realistic alternative, I am not looking forward to that conversation. She seems pretty determined to drive, I think I would have to take the keys by force, and that could get pretty ugly.

I guess I could make handing over the keys a precondition before the alcohol.

That would be a good idea. I myself have never had an issue taking ones keys by force from a person who has lost their judgment due to alcohol. I would rather have a sore jaw than the possible alternative.

 

[danmand]

Haha, I think my wife would probably not agree to that plan. Taking her keys is probably the only realistic alternative, I am not looking forward to that conversation. She seems pretty determined to drive, I think I would have to take the keys by force, and that could get pretty ugly.

I guess I could make handing over the keys a precondition before the alcohol.

Get her a room in a hotel. Might have other benefits???

 

[Dissey23]

Get a hotel room for her? This avoids the discussion with your wife and may enable you to have a little fun too.

 

[Dissey23]

WTF..>DANMAND...LOL. Great minds think alike!

 

[Hurricane Hank]

Go out with her closer to her home. Share a cab, drop her off then cab it home yourself.

 

[red]

Haha, I think my wife would probably not agree to that plan. Taking her keys is probably the only realistic alternative, I am not looking forward to that conversation. She seems pretty determined to drive, I think I would have to take the keys by force, and that could get pretty ugly.

I guess I could make handing over the keys a precondition before the alcohol.

ok. call me next time. i will take her home.

 

[Hybridel]

something to keep in mind,

If you intend on taking the keys, make sure you hang onto them.

I'm going to be burying a good friend tomorrow that stole his keys back from the person he went out drinking with.

Made it 1/2 way home, then hit a pole and rolled the car.

Took emergency services 45 minutes to get his body out with the jaws of life.

 

[calloway]

There's a point to where the games stop and you simply tell her that you will call the police the next time she attempts to drive drunk.

 

[james t kirk]

There's a point to where the games stop and you simply tell her that you will call the police the next time she attempts to drive drunk.

Yep.

Another idea would be to hire her a driver and pay him directly.

 

[hunter001]

Send a cab to pick her up at her house before she starts drinking and pay for the cab home.

Have her leave the car at your place before drinking, share the cab back to your place, send her home in the cab from there.

 

[Hangman]

Why not stop enabling her self-destructive drinking habit? She clearly needs more help than just taking her keys.

Not to sound harsh, but if you're a good friend you need to help her. If you're not close enough to take on that responsibility, I'd just stop drinking with her.

 

[onehunglow]

Next time follow her cab to her car. Soon as she starts up call the cops so she can get a free ride to jail and a DUI charge. Insurance and the cost of a good lawyer might just be enough to save her or someone elses life one day. You will be doing her a favor.

Most drunks have a second set of keys.

 

[drstrangelove]

If she's a good friend, why not have a heart to heart discussion with her about drinking and driving. It's just not acceptable and she needs to be made aware of that.

 

[zekestone]

Suggestions?

Get in the cab with her and sleep over at her place... after all, you can't drive her home since you've been drinking too!

 

[1HandInMyPocket]

Why not stop enabling her self-destructive drinking habit? She clearly needs more help than just taking her keys.

Not to sound harsh, but if you're a good friend you need to help her. If you're not close enough to take on that responsibility, I'd just stop drinking with her.

I agree. Have a talk with her. If that does not work, than stop inviting her to drink with you.