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Is drink driving ever right?!

155 replies

Lillylight · 27/05/2025 15:06

Obviously the answer is a resounding NO! I know that. Everyone knows that…..right?

So how do I process/deal with my DH after he decided to drink and drive and just about manage to park on our drive?

In-laws response: Sweep it under the carpet.

DH’s response: It was just a mistake, I didn’t get caught so let’s not discuss it anymore or more accurately AT ALL.

Me: On OUR holiday alone as he missed the flight due to sleeping it off.

OP posts:
AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/05/2025 16:05

Simple answer: His football team lost

He sounded bad enough before, but fgs. Arsehole men who behave like brainless morons (or violent thugs) and blame it on one bunch of blokes kicking a ball more or less successfully than another bunch of blokes. Utterly pathetic.

He’s a childish idiot.

So the question is: why would you want to be married to a childish idiot?

Flashahah · 27/05/2025 16:05

gamerchick · 27/05/2025 15:10

It's not really all about the drink driving is it? He's missed a holiday because of his drinking.

I'm glad you went though, a bit of space to think can be a good thing.

This, both are a problem, together they’re a massive issue.

Auroraloves · 27/05/2025 16:05

myplace · 27/05/2025 16:01

Write to him.

DH, you don’t seem to understand the situation we are in. You were fed up for a variety of reasons so you drank to excess, drove over the limit, and missed the holiday.

If your judgement is that bad, how can you be in sole charge of our DC?

How can you think it’s ok to drive drunk? You could cause an accident and end up in prison.

How can I stay married to someone who doesn’t see what a big deal this is?

Please think about it. Please come up with a plan that will reassure me that we can save our marriage.

I’m not sure if children are involved?

ApartFromAllThat · 27/05/2025 16:03

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 27/05/2025 15:17

This is not OK. What was he thinking? I am sorry you are having to deal with this.

One of my friends was prosecuted for drink driving. Her dd had taken an overdose and was touch and go in hospital. We live in the arse end of nowhere where you need to pre book a taxi a week in advance. She couldn't get hold of anyone as it was 2am

She got caught and thrown into a cell. She was distraught as she had no idea if her dd was even alive.

I still don't think it's OK, but I did have a lot of empathy for the situation she found herself in. Most dd situations are more straightforward though

Edited

This is exactly the sort of life or death scenario I imagined as I was opening the thread, and I'd think your friend had no any other option really. A big risk to take...that if they didn't take would quickly see their DC dead.

But is drink driving ok after your team lost??? Ehhhhhhhhh.

(End of PL season honours got divided up on Sunday, Aston Villa lost to United and missed out on Champs League...am I warm??)

It's very sad for you that he's put you in this situation. Hopefully the state of him missing out on the holiday is wake up time for him, otherwise it must be the boot.

CloudywMeatballs · 27/05/2025 16:02

It sounds like he has an alcohol problem, and that is the main issue you need to decide how you want to deal with, if at all.

To answer your original question, I have no problem driving home after a beer or a glass of wine, but I would never drive if I couldn't even manage to park the car properly. If I want to drink more when I'm out and there's no designated driver I'll get an Uber. I have never drunk so much that I can't get up for a flight the next day.

myplace · 27/05/2025 16:01

Write to him.

DH, you don’t seem to understand the situation we are in. You were fed up for a variety of reasons so you drank to excess, drove over the limit, and missed the holiday.

If your judgement is that bad, how can you be in sole charge of our DC?

How can you think it’s ok to drive drunk? You could cause an accident and end up in prison.

How can I stay married to someone who doesn’t see what a big deal this is?

Please think about it. Please come up with a plan that will reassure me that we can save our marriage.

ProfessionalWhimsicalSkidaddler · 27/05/2025 16:00

Oh OP. This is so tough. We’ve all drunk too much and done something we are embarrassed about but this is so much more than that. I’m not comparing the two. Im saying I can sympathise with causing a problem.

I’m incredibly anti drink driving and would also have called the police (well done for doing that) but I don’t think I would leave after one occurrence for someone who doesn’t normally behave this way, is apologetic, is in line with me and my moral code and I’m not in a bad place with. I would expect some solid changes such as not drinking again. Ever. He cannot be trusted.

I also think it adds to the ordeal that he couldn’t make it to the plane? He must have been blotto and seems to give a nonchalant response. I’m glad you went. He could join you tomorrow?

ignore the in-laws. If they are not on the same page, they’re opinion is irrelevant.

I really hope you’re ok. It doesn’t matter what we say. It’s only what you feel that matters and I hope you’re able to work out what that is

sweetpickle2 · 27/05/2025 15:55

I drove twice after a drink when I was young (talking 17/18), often under peer pressure from my so-called 'friends' who didn't want to pay for a taxi home. Not an excuse at all, I know.

Over 20 years later I think back to those two occasions and shudder that I was so irresponsible and stupid, and think how lucky I was that nothing bad happened.

If my grown ass husband did this, and was subsequently so pissed he missed our holiday, I'd be calling divorce lawyers. Do you have children?

His in-laws encouraging you to brush it under the rug is a red flag as well. What other bad behaviour would they encourage you to turn a blind eye to?

ohtowinthelottery · 27/05/2025 15:53

If my DH thought the excuse "he didn't get caught" made drinking and driving OK then he wouldn't be my DH any longer.
Getting caught would be the lesser of all evils. Having an accident and maiming or killing an innocent road user or pedestrian was always a possibility. I could not live with someone who thinks that's acceptable.
Your DH clearly has a drink problem. He needs to get help. At the very least he needs to leave the car behind when he goes out drinking.

heffalumpwoozle · 27/05/2025 15:53

If my husband did that one time, we'd be teetering on the edge of divorce. It would be touch and go whether we stayed together. It's incredibly unsafe and not something to be brushed under the carpet.

If he managed to pull himself back from that with a damn good explanation and a profuse (and genuine) apology, he'd not be doing it again if he wanted to keep me. It would be his one and only chance.

Your DH's response of 'I didn't get caught' would not cut it for me. He clearly doesn't see the problem with what he did.

And I wouldn't care a jot what in laws said. Their opinion is completely irrelevant. This is about your life and what is acceptable to you. You are married to someone who is happy to take needless, stupid risks with his life and the lives of others. By extension, he's not all that fussed if his actions cause the death of a child, a parent, or himself, leaving you a widow picking up the pieces. It sounds extreme, but that is what happens.

Your in laws don't get to tell you whether or not that should be OK with you.

ProfessionalWhimsicalSkidaddler · 27/05/2025 15:52

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/05/2025 15:08

Hopefully there were no passengers in the car.

Like this matters. There will have been other people on the road.

Auroraloves · 27/05/2025 15:51

He’s a selfish man child, and his in laws are ridiculous for brushing it under the carpet.

Im glad you haven’t missed your holiday because of this twat.

Let him go live with his Mammy and Daddy they can deal with him

toomuchfaff · 27/05/2025 15:48

Lillylight · 27/05/2025 15:27

Simple answer: His football team lost

Possible real answers: He’s stressed, we’d had an argument about his selfishness. He finds it hard to stop after one. He’s a childish idiot. Possibly others?!

His football team lost...

Seriously? For that alone od be telling him I'm out.

Questions id be considering:
Does he have an alcohol problem?
What was his reasoning?
Does he make lots of stupid decisions and this was the last in a long list or the first?
Was there a life or death emergency?
Why continue drinking if you have the car?
Does he have problems knowing his limits?
Why choose the car? Leave it? Taxi?

I'd definitely not "sweep it under the carpet" or "shhhhh"

Football team lost... so drink driving was his answer, what a childlike approach to a potentially life changing decision.

Let go of the rope.

Auroraloves · 27/05/2025 15:47

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 27/05/2025 15:40

Without any thought of anyone else's children?

That is some logic

I’m sure @OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon also hopes no other road users were harmed. Why are you pushing this point?

PinkyFlamingo · 27/05/2025 15:46

What happened when you phoned the Police?

andtheworldrollson · 27/05/2025 15:46

You are being unreasonable in that you stay with someone with a drink problem that they won’t address and is putting other peoples lives at risk

i assume he had arrived home before you realised which is why you didn’t phone the police on him?

LightCameraBitchSmile · 27/05/2025 15:45

Of course there are times its ok. Your football team losing isn't one of them - doesn't even come close!

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 27/05/2025 15:40

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/05/2025 15:39

@SeaShellsSanctuary1

I was enquiring if he was also risking the lives of any children they may have.

Without any thought of anyone else's children?

That is some logic

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/05/2025 15:39

@SeaShellsSanctuary1

I was enquiring if he was also risking the lives of any children they may have.

CarmellaSopranosKitchen · 27/05/2025 15:39

He sounds like he has a drink problem. Refusing to talk about it. Missing a flight...
people kill people drink driving. It's life changing serious stuff that ruins lives. He has a drink issue and is refusing to face it. Don;t let him drag you down.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 27/05/2025 15:37

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/05/2025 15:08

Hopefully there were no passengers in the car.

Why? What about everyone else on the road

Soukmyfalafel · 27/05/2025 15:37

I'd be glad he's at home and not ruining your holiday.

Does this sort of behaviour happen often? He needs to grow up.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/05/2025 15:36

I suspect this is the very same Husband you wrote about in Sept 2022.

So nearly 3 years later...

azafata2 · 27/05/2025 15:36

And not even at home!

azafata2 · 27/05/2025 15:36

I know it is easy for all of us to be horrified and say it but your emotions must be all over the place. I would be upset, sad, angry and so disappointed.