Travel Right at Night
…. Friends don’t let friends sleep it off in a parking lot
It’s the weekend again! Yes, again!! How are you feeling? Are you recovered from St. Paddy’s day? Spring is officially here, and that means more time socializing with friends outdoors under the sun and definitely more libations and adult beverages. We all know the saying, “friends don’t let friends drive drunk” and we wouldn’t let someone we love get behind the wheel and drive them (or us) home. But equally as important: please don’t leave someone you love alone in a bar or alone to sleep off their buzz in the car. The story of Terrilynn Monette (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20681602,00.html ) really hit home for me, as she is a 26 year old school teacher in New Orleans who was at a local bar celebrating her nomination for teacher of the year with her friends this past March 2nd. The bartender cut her off saying she’d had too much to drink, and at the end of the night Terrilynn told her friends she would sleep off her buzz in the car. And they let her!! Devastatingly, Terrilynn has not been seen since.
Leaving a friend who has had one too many is never a good idea! Part of the Live Right at Night mantra includes Playing and Traveling Right at Night! That means before you head out you should have a game plan created regarding how you will get home. If you or your friends have too much to drink opt to take a cab or car service home and check in to be sure everyone makes it home safely. Even better? Why not have a good old-fashioned sleepover if one of you is a bit too drunk to drive home.
Let’s also talk about how alcohol realistically leaves your system: sleeping off the shots or drinks you’ve had sounds responsible in theory but there’s nothing you can do once you’re intoxicated to speed up the process of removing alcohol from your body. Just because you have been to sleep doesn’t mean you aren’t still affected by alcohol. (Just think about how you feel the morning after when you have a hangover, you aren’t your normal peppy self). A quick power nap won’t make you less inebriated. Taking a cold shower, or having a cup of coffee won’t make your body metabolize or breakdown the alcohol in your system faster. The two factors that determine how fast your liver gets rid of the alcohol in your body is 1) the amount you had to drink and 2) the time in which you drank all that hooch. And if your liver is damaged in any way then the process can take even longer.
This weekend if you’re out partying, make sure you have a plan in place to get home safely. If you’re planning a night out, have a designated driver identified before you leave the house. And if you live life spontaneously and end up drinking the night away, call a cab or have someone take you home. ….. Don’t put yourself or others at risk!
Wishing you a fabulous spring weekend.
Smooches
Dr. V