No party is complete without drinks and great friends. If you have both, you have a party to be proud of. But when it’s time to go home, you definitely want a designated driver. Here are five ways to make sure you always have a designated driver before the party starts.
Set a pick-up time with a taxi company like Uber
If you’re not a designated driver and end up in a situation where you’ve been drinking, it’s important that you find a way to get home safely. The easiest way to do that is by having a taxi company on speed dial so that as soon as you start feeling the effects of the alcohol, someone can be on the way to pick you up.
The problem is that some people think it’s fine to drink and drive because they assume it won’t happen to them. Unfortunately, it’s just as easy to get behind the wheel after one beer as it is after five or ten.
If you need help in getting home safely or making sure your designated driver isn’t drinking and driving, here are a few tips:
Have money ready before the party starts: It’s better to have cash in hand than to have ended up owing someone money. It’s also a good idea to have a backup plan — like another friend who can take over while you deal with whatever happened at the party.
Consider using Uber or Lyft: These services are great if there are multiple people needing rides. You can schedule them ahead of time, which is important when there are multiple people wanting rides. Programs like this can make the process of getting home safe much easier.
Invite a Designated Driver
If you’re planning to enjoy the night on the town, you should make sure you have a designated driver. Why is it important to have a designated driver? Because everyone’s legal drinking limit is different. Even if everyone has had a few drinks, chances are someone will be driving a car or operating heavy machinery and won’t be as steady on their feet as they’d like. If one person gets behind the wheel, you can rest assured that they’ll be in control of their faculties.
Who qualifies to be a designated driver? A designated driver can be anyone who doesn’t plan to drink alcohol. A friend who doesn’t drink is ideal, but neighbours and family members are also eligible. Someone unrelated to your party who is willing to take charge so that no one gets hurt is also an option.
Alternate driving among friends
You can alternate driving among friends by alternating the drivers between the people who are attending the party. This is good because it keeps from having too many people driving at once, which increases the possibility of someone making a bad choice of driver.
Alternating the designated driver means that one person will be sober and will therefore be in charge of making sure everyone gets home safely. You can alternate driving among friends by having each person bring a designated driver to the party. This is another good way to alternate driving among friends because then everyone knows whose job it is to make sure everyone makes it home safely.
Have a backup plan in case you can’t find a designated driver
Having a designated driver can be difficult if you don’t know anyone who will or can act as one. It’s also hard to find someone who won’t get drunk and drive, so you take the chance that the person you pick will drink too much and then drive your friends home.
Fortunately, there are options that allow for “alternate driving.” You could have a friend or family member drop you off at your party and pick you up later in the evening. Or, if you live close enough to where your party is being held, consider parking on the street and walking home.
Make it clear that no one is allowed to drive drunk or made to drive drunk
A designated driver can be a friend, roommate, spouse, or parent — whoever is willing to take the blame if someone gets behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.
There are many ways people try to get around the rules against letting people who have been drinking drive. Some try to convince a friend or roommate to stay at home and drive in their place. Others try to skip the designated driver by claiming that it’s a “work night” or “a girls’ night out,” hoping no one will notice that they’ve slipped out of their pants and into their pajamas.
So next time you think about getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, remember:
If you’re going to drink and drive, you’re doing it wrong. Make it clear what you expect from your designated driver before your party; otherwise, he or she will be forced to choose between risking serious injury or being blamed for causing an accident.
As such, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead of time and make sure that you have a designated driver. This way, you won’t have to worry about potential car trouble on the ride home, and you can spend more time on your actual party instead.