How do you convince an alcoholic that it is seriously dangerous to drink and drive?

Answer 1

You don't....you just take away his or her car keys.

Answer 2

I started drinking heavily at the age of 15 & a year later could have been considered a full blown alcoholic.

I remained that way for over a quarter of a century....but never once did I drink & drive...of course, I've never had a driver's license which may have a lot to do with that.

I have had a lot of friends who have refused to believe that they'd had to much alcohol to drive & being just as intoxicated, I'd end up in the same vehicle with them. It's a wonder that we all aren't dead now....

I'm rambling, but the reason for my ramble was to let you know that I've been there & know from experience that you can't tell a drunk anything that they don't want to hear. Wait til the person is totally sober & you'll have a better chance....but I doubt that anyone's advice will be worth more to an alcoholic than the alcohol is.

BTW...I've been totally sober for 4 years & 8 months. :)

Answer 3

When a person is intoxicated, their ability to think is further impaired. They can be totally irrational and convincing them they can't drive will probably have no effect. Often they will feel as if they are invincible and nothing will happen to them

Offer to drive the person home and when they sober up in the morning they can drive you home.

Call a cab.

Most alcoholics who don't seek treatment--like from AA do not think that their drinking is a problem. No matter what you tell them about possibly killing themselves or innocent people by drinking & driving will have litte effect on them.

Answer 4

you can't. If he drinks he drinks if he has to go get something to eat he will if he is drunk or not. If he has to run an errand if he is drunk or not he will. Nothing you can do or say is really going to affect him he is lost until he goes to jail for a long time and gets sober. he needs AA but once he starts he has to keep going cuz the court systems do know if you go or not mysteriously they do and they hold it against you in court. They did for me anyways they found out I was going and they told me in court that I was going for a while then I quit going I even went on my own without anyone knowing and they found this out and then they said "Why did you go for a while then quit going?" Well I had a problem with a guy in there he was gay and such and coming on to me. I was like Uh NO!!! and I quit going altogether. So he needs to get into AA and make a commitment to get sober or at least slow it down. Right now he is at a point of no return. Once you hit that stage where you feel like you can drink and drive you are on a slippery slope and its pretty certain you will get caught soon.

Answer 5

You can't until they see if for themselves.
My husband was a recovering alcoholic when we met and now he is drinkin again after almost 9 yrs of sobriety. Yes, he blew it.
He drinks every day now and is a mean person to me when he drinks although he says that it's my fault b/c I am 'pissing him off'. WTFE!!
He originally quit b/c he knew it was getting out of control and thought that if he got in a wreck and killed a family with children, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. BUT NOW he is doing it all over again.
Hang in there...... maybe we will BOTH see good results soon! It's to the point now that I try not to talk to him so I don't 'piss him off'. They are stupid to do this to us!
The alcohol is doing all the talkin FOR them.

Answer 6

alcoholism is a disease, you must understand that first and formost. You can not convince them of anything. Most alcoholics have to hit rock bottom before they understand they need help. Such as loosing their job, home, family, car accident, before they wake up and admit they are powerless over alchol. You can tell them and tell them. But you need to know this isn't your fight and you can not make them quit. You can try to take away their keys, but that can cause an angered outrage and that can get you hurt.

Answer 7

They have to see the consequences. Unfortunately, you may just have to call the police and give them the persons license plate number. But because they are drunk currently or have done it before without getting in trouble or killing themselves or someone else, they don't understand because of what the alcohol has done to them mentally.

Sit down with them and talk to them about what you won't stand for and that's putting themself and others in danger. Don't enable them either!

Answer 8

show them internet websites
actual stories of real drinking and driving disasters
stress the number of people who die due to car accidents that have alcohol involved
mention a few things that could hit close to home, to make them really realize how what they do could hurt many people.
and finally, show him/her this poem:

Near the door he paused to stand
As he took his class ring off her hand
All who were watching did not speek,
as silent tears ran down his cheek
And through his mind the memories ran
Of the moments they walked and ran hand in hand
but now her her eyes were terrible cold
for he would never again have her to hold
They watched in silence as he bent near
and whisperd the words " i love you" in her ear
He touched her face and started to cry
as he put on his ring and wanted to die
and just then the wind began to blow
as they lowerd he casket into the snow.
This is what happens to a man alive
when friends let friends drink and drive

Answer 9

Unfortunately, if this person really is an alcoholic, they are not going to listen to you. As sad as it is the only way they will ever realize the danger- is after it's already too late.

Answer 10

You don't, I've known several and no amount of talking will do any good, the best you can do is take away or hide their keys...they already know that it's dangerous to drink and drive, but when they drink they forget that fact !!!!!!!!

Answer 11

Im sorry to say but some people never learn even after they get hurt. Some people you can change after they see or actually go through the process but some never learn. But if you are ever with them drive them whenever you can or get a friend to drive them or even better get a taxi.