3 Practical Alternatives to Drunk Driving During the Holidays

Everybody knows that driving drunk is dangerous, illegal, and just plain stupid. Yet, especially in San Antonio, drunk driving is still a major problem affecting even our government officials.

Fortunately, 2023 doesn’t have to end in tragedy. There are many practical ways you can celebrate to the fullest without putting your life and the lives of those around you in peril by driving drunk.

Let’s take a look at 3 practical ways you can say no to driving drunk and start 2024 with no regrets.

Make the Decision Now, Not After You’ve Been Drinking

Most people don’t want to intentionally put other people’s or their own lives at risk. So why do so many normal, intelligent people in Texas choose to get behind the wheel when they know it’s wrong?

According to Pine Grove, a behavioral health and addiction service organization, there are 3 main reasons why most people drive drunk:

1. Impaired Judgement — Unsurprisingly, drinking alcohol changes your brain and the way you think. People do things when they’re drunk that they would never dream of doing sober.
2. Embarrassment — Who wants to admit to their friends that they got way too drunk to drive their car home?
3. False Security — Greater than a simple lax in judgment, some people are affected by alcohol with an extreme confidence boost. This leads them to believe that they could get away with driving drunk or just talk their way out of a ticket.

Eliminate these reasons from the equation and plan to drive sober right now. In the following paragraphs, we’ll talk about 3 options that are extremely accessible and can be planned in advance.

Designated Drivers

If you have a family member or a friend who wants to go to a party with you but doesn’t drink, consider asking them to be your designated driver. Many establishments across Texas offer non-alcoholic cocktails and beers that can work well as an incentive to your non-drinking companion, but a nice gift basket doesn’t hurt either.

Alternatively, you can order a vehicle pickup service like Dryver. They can pick up your vehicle for you after you’ve been drinking, or they can be hired as a personal driver for the whole night if you’re hitting multiple spots.

Uber/Lyft Drivers

You can order a rideshare service pretty much everywhere now. Now, we know what you’re thinking. “I can’t afford to hire an Uber; alcohol is expensive enough as it is!”

Counterpoint: if you’re caught drunk driving, you can be charged up to $2,000 for a first-time offense in Texas. You can also face up to 180 days in jail. Consider splitting the cost with friends, and it should cost you less than a traffic ticket.

Taxis

Yes, taxis still exist. Check online to see where the nearest cabs are to your party location. Many major hotels have lines of taxis waiting for just such an occasion. Many major cities also have electric cabs if being environmentally conscious is one of your 2024 resolutions.

Carabin Shaw hopes you have a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration — but we’re on standby if the worst happens.

Injured by a Drunk Driver in Texas? Call Carabin Shaw.

Over 10,000 people are killed, and many more are seriously injured in DUI accidents every year.

If you were injured or lost a loved one because of a drunk driver, we can help. Carabin Shaw has aggressively defended those hurt or killed in DUI accidents for 30 years, and we put our clients first. Call us for a free consultation at 800-862-1260. Our main office is located in San Antonio.

Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney does not obligate you to work with the firm.