MDRINK DRIVING M

M Is the drinker you are concerned about driving a vehicle under the influence?

M   Does the drinker drive with children as passengers whilst under the influence?

If so, you need to ask yourself some very serious questions.  The person might kill another motorist or a pedestrian.  Young children cannot know when someone is under the influence.  Older ones may know but may feel powerless to object.  If you do not act to protect the children, you are effectively colluding with the commission of a serious crime and are knowingly placing those children’s lives at risk.  Imagine what you would feel if there was an accident which you could have prevented.

You may be afraid of what the drinker will say if you confront them.  You might consider it disloyal to report the drinker to the police, you might be afraid that someone will lose their job.

HOWEVER, YOU CANNOT IN ALL CONSCIENCE DO NOTHING

We suggest you use the drink driving as a lever to persuade the drinker to seek help. If a tactful and diplomatic approach to the drinker when they are sober falls on deaf ears, you could say “I cannot allow you to continue driving (those children) around when you have been drinking.  If you don’t stop it, I shall have no alternative but to tell the police.  If you are telling me that you can’t stop, then we’d better get some professional help.”

Please don’t try this tactic of course if there’s any likelihood of the person becoming violent, and don’t raise the issue unless they are sober!

In the last analysis, if you cannot persuade the drinker to stop, you must carry out the threat.  It may seem cruel, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, and you know that the drinker has no right to endanger the lives of others.