You are on a date that goes incredibly well. The conversation is easy and the chemistry is there. You have a few drinks while laughing and enjoying each other’s company. On the drive home, you see flashing lights behind you. Your perfect date night turns into a night in jail. However, all of this could have been easily avoided. Learn how-to avoid a date night DUI.
How-to Avoid a Date Night DUI: Making Responsible Decisions
Manage Alcohol Amounts
First, in order to avoid a date night DUI, you must limit the amount of alcohol that you drink. If you stay sober all night, there is no way you will get a DUI on the way home. Try to find activities that do not involve drinking. Some ideas include taking a cooking class, playing mini golf, going for a walk in a park, or grabbing ice cream. There are plenty of fun ideas you can do on a date without having to drink alcohol.
However, if you are going to be doing something that may be more focused around alcohol, try to manage how much and what types of alcohol you drink. Instead of taking shots of liquor or having a strong mixed drink, opt for a beer that has a low alcohol content. There are even beers and ciders that now have no alcohol in them. Make sure to drink slowly so that you avoid drinking more than you meant to. Try to stay hydrated, alternating between alcoholic drinks and water. This will also slow down your pace. Also, make sure to stop drinking well before you are going to drive. It can take your body hours to process alcohol, so your blood alcohol content (BAC) can be time for quite some time. The longer you wait after drinking to drive, the lower your BAC will be.
Ride Alternatives
If you do plan on drinking, or end up drinking more than anticipated, make sure to have a backup plan for how you will get home. Options to consider are a taxi, public transit, a ride share, or having a friend to pick you up. All of these options can help you get home safely without getting behind the wheel. Consider options for your date as well, as you do not want him or her to end up with a date night DUI either.