The Moderation Debate

Let me be clear - I love being sober, and I don't want to moderate. BUT, I do think we shuold talk about it a bit more, instead of being fearful.

The Moderation Debate

WBxx

DUI

I read an article yesterday about drunk drivers in the US. One State, instead of removing the driving licence, was enforcing mandatory sobriety, by making offenders take a breathalyzer test twice a day. Should the offender fail the test - off to jail they go and/or lose their Driving Licence (and I should have saved the link, sorry)

Of course this raises all sort of arguments about civil liberties, but the article went on to say that a over 25% of the offenders, once the 'sentence" was completed, chose to live a sober life (at least for some time).

When I moved to Canada, about twelve years ago, I was shocked that most people seemed to disregard the Drunk Driving laws. I moved to a small mill town in the middle of Vancouver Island ( guess away) and Drunk Driving was practically a sport.

There were a few road blocks around Christmas time and  statutory holidays, but in the main, people would take 'a chance" and get behind the wheel after they had a few.

As my drinking increased, I got very organized (I think one of you lovely people referred to it as Wine Management 101). I always made sure that I had plenty of wine, so I would never be tempted to drive, even as all reason and common sense left me.

Well that was the theory.

I have never been caught driving over the limit, and I have never had an accident.

Only by the best luck ever.

I have definitely driven while under the influence of alcohol, I am very ashamed to admit.

I wondered what would have happened if I had been caught and sentenced to mandatory sobriety.

I hope that I would have been so ashamed of myself that I never touched another drop. I hope that I would be thankful for a second chance. I hope that I would have eventually embraced the sober life, even after the "sentence" was lifted.

I hope this experiment is successful.