Hey everyone, so the other night I went to a party with my friend who promised that he would drive me home at the end of the night. As soon as we got there people offered us some beer. I asked my friend not to get drunk because I didn’t want to get a ride home from someone who had been drinking. The night went on and I had a lot of fun, and so did my friend.

When it was time to leave, I found my friend, and he was still holding a beer. I asked him how much he had to drink and he said “I dunno, a few.” When we started walking to the car I noticed that he was stumbling, and he kept slurring his words while he talked. When we got to the car I asked him straight out if he was drunk, and he said “nah, man I’m really fine.”

What was I supposed to do? I didn’t want to get into the car with someone who was under the influence of alcohol, but I also didn’t want to insult my friend. It’s really hard to stand up to your friends, especially your close ones. But getting home safely is the most important thing. I ended up asking someone else (who was sober) for a ride, and made my friend leave his car at the party and ride home with me.

Here are some tips I’ve picked up for getting home safely at the end of the night:

• Find (or be) a designated driver. You and your friends can take turns from week to week. Whoever is the DD for the night should stay completely sober so that they can bring their friends home safely.
• If you’re worried about not being able to find a DD, enlist a friend, sibling, parent, or another trusted adult as a backup, who can pick you up at any time – no questions asked.
• Bring some extra money with you just in case. This way, if you can’t find a dd and your back-ups aren’t available, you can take a taxi home. There are also services called “Freerides” or “Saferides that will drive someone home if they’re too drunk to drive. Check to see if you have “Freerides” or “Saferides” in your area.
• If all else fails, see if you can sleep over. Many party hosts will actually feel better if you sleep there as opposed to getting into a car with someone who has been drinking.

Trust me, you do not want to get into the car with someone who is under the influence. I know for a fact that I can count on my brothers and my parents to pick me up if I feel like I’m in danger, and I know a few people that even call their priest or rabbi to pick them up if they can’t call anyone else. Asking someone to help you stay safe is always the right decision.

-Elan