WWYD - drink driving

[Dorsetcamping]

So I have recently started working behind the bar in a local rural pub.

Tbh most of the punters (old men) are well over the limit when they leave, having drunk at least 4 pints in the space of a few hours. It doesn't sit comfortably with me but I have been told in no it's not my place to judge and regular occurrence in most pubs

Bad enough but last week a group of people came in and got shitfaced (non-stop drinking from about 3 - 10pm). I suspect they were also snorting coke. They then proceeded to get their car keys out which I was aghast at as genuinely thought they would call a cab. But to top it all they had young kids with then. Could not believe what I was watching when they all piled into the cars with the kids and drove off.

Again landlord said it was non of our business but I have not been able to stop thinking about it ever since. Bad enough if they killed themselves but what if they'd ploughed into someone else or killed the kids.

Someone said to me you can't afford to have morals in the pub game but whilst I certainly don't approve, can't afford to just walk away from this job. I've been told this group come in the pub reasonably regularly and would very much like advice on what I should do if the same scenario arises.

I'd ring Crimestoppers anonymously and let them know the situation. They'll pass the info onto the police who can hopefully come and do some random checks. Nothing to do with you, obviously.

I’d make an anonymous call to the police either when it’s happening or just to let them know this is happening regularly from the pub.

It is very much the landlord's business, they could lose their licence for that. I don't know what the law is over here, but back home, the person who served them, could be fined thousands, also.

Crimestoppers; as much detail as you can. You'll not be the only person that has noticed this behaviour.

I thought the landlord had a legal obligation to withhold car keys from a driver who was drunk as a result of drinking in his pub?

He will lose his license if he is caught not reporting drink driving. It is the pub's job to prevent drink driving if they can or call the police if they can't

Maybe get your landlord to read some things about it.

wslaw.co.uk/insight/landlords-reminded-of-licence-obligations-to-curb-drink-driving/

The landlord is disgusting. To turn a blind eye to that.

As an employee at the pub, you need to tell them they cannot drive as they are over the limit. Call the police and take photos of their registration plates.

If you get fired, take your employee to an employment tribunal.

Horseshit. I always reported drink drivers, as taught by my old landlord.

Report away, including the landlord to licensing and the brewery if there is one.

Imo it is a landlords responsibility. Even if staff cannot physically stop them driving away they could let the local police know.

I would anonymously speak to the local policing team rather than ringing 999. I once rang 999 and reported someone for drink driving. They were very drunk. Told them the exact route they’d go but they didn’t have any officers in the area to find him 😩 nor could they prove anything afterwards. This was my ex, needless to say we didn’t stay together. I have no time for drink drivers. Scum.

Definitely a tip off is in order if you don't feel brave enough to challenge this but really you should. You'd feel awful if something happened and should report to landlord. Maybe he can drive people if he's that keen for their business or offer taxi firm locally a deal?

I used to live in a small village and there were plenty of times the landlord took car keys off customers. It very much is the landlords business. I'd report it anonymously like others said.

Where abouts are you op? I have been in areas where in rural pubs a “bus taxi” does the rounds - it’s to stop drink drivers etc. Also been in places where the landlord does the dropping home to Keep the business alive as without these mechanisms in place their businesses wouldn’t survive ! Definetly report it - imagine how you would feel if a drunk driver from there crashed into one of your family members?

Thank you. The landlord and his wife are often in the pub themselves and drive home after several drinks. That coupled with the fact these drinkers spend huge amounts of money propel him ignoring the situation.

Most of the other bar staff are very young and just do as they are told but I'm a worldly wise old hag who has seen more than enough of how drink driving can wreck lives

We have a wonderful landlord who drives people home! (we are also rural). Could you suggest some sort of scheme to him where drivers take it in turns or something?

Wow the landlord is an absolute idiot. I wonder if he’d feel the same if one of his loved ones got wiped out by a drink driver. I think we all have a civic responsibility to report anyone drink/drug driving. I would ring the Police in a heartbeat. Give as many of their details as you know.

As an IRD advisor who'd been sent to teach me how to do t'tax once said to me, 'if I were you, I'd look for a new job before the shit really hits the fan here. Because I can guarantee you it will'.

I’m sure you can anonymously report.
Just say what you’ve said here. The brewery will be very interested in this too I would have thought.

OP.... you have to be very careful serving drinks to intoxicated customers. As I understand it, you could be liable

Absolutely report them every single time. Landlord too.
I've not done barwork for a good few years now but when I did and I was always rural, I was known as the barmaid who stole the keys.

More than once I took keys off drunk idiots who were going to drive, and only once did I actually throw the keys away. The other times they went in the safe but one occasion I launched them into a lake.

The landlord wasn't around when the large group was in. I was working on my own and certainly wouldn't have felt comfortable challenging them. I think that scenario is something that needs further discussion as aside from anything else I didn't feel 100% safe.

Whilst it is all drink driving there appears to be 2 scenarios: firstly where old boys come in on a daily basis and firmly believe 4 pints is perfectly acceptable limits to be driving, and secondly younger people who are clearly out to get pissed and just don't care about getting in their cars and driving. Both as bad as each other imo but may need different approach.

I'd visit the police station and tell them of this.

No. They need the same approach. Tell them that you cant serve them if they're driving and then call the police if they get violent or get into their cars.