Playing the role of designated driver might not seem ideal when you’re surrounded by happily buzzed company, but when you think about the alternatives, from an embarrassing photo on Facebook to a killer morning hangover, being designated driver actually has its perks, not to mention saves lives.
Instead of getting yourself into a funk because you can’t share the intoxicating experience of alcohol with your friends, make the best of your alcohol-free night out by keeping these designated driver advantages in mind:
- You get a fun night out with family or friends minus the dreaded morning-after hangover.
- If you’ve made a personal choice not to drink but are tired of the stigma and questions attached to abstaining in social settings where alcohol is served, you’ll have a socially acceptable reason for not drinking.
- You’ll be thoroughly entertained by the silly antics of your inebriated friends, and since drunk people don’t care about how you sound or act, you can confidently hit the dance floor or belt out a tune at karaoke without judgment or the help of alcohol.
- You’ll feel the satisfaction of knowing that everyone got home safe and sound.
- You’ll keep your friends and yourself alive and out of jail.
- You can save the lives of intoxicated people who are without a designated driver by taking their keys and offering or finding them a safe ride home.
So the next time it’s your turn to be designated driver, don’t get too bummed. Enjoy a night out without the hangover and take pride in knowing that you saved a friend’s life, or at least helped them avoid embarrassment, senseless injury, or a DWI and the fines and jail time that come with it. To make sure you are an effective and responsible designated driver, check out Howtodothings.com’s “How to Be a Good Designated Driver” for some great Do’s and Don’ts.
And remember: Being designated driver does not mean being the least drunk or the most sober. Being designated driver means absolutely no alcohol (not even one sip) and 100% sobriety.