CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Have you ever been in a situation where you went out with friends and the designated driver decided to drink half-way through the night?
What did you do? Did you stop drinking and try to sober up? Did you keep drinking and assume the DD would be fine later?
The decision the DD makes affects the entire group, not just one person. Personally, I don't put my life in anyone's hands, especially if I can't rely on them to get me home safe.
The Alert Cab program can help in these situations. Alert Cab has one purpose: to separate the intoxicated customer from his/her car until it is safe for the customer to drive.
Thursday night I went out for a friend's birthday party at a local restaurant and decided to put Alert Cab to the test. I knew before I left my house that evening that I was going to be drinking. So before leaving, I looked over the list of 150 restaurants in Charleston that supported the Alert Cab program, and the one I was going to was on it. Knowing this, I made arrangements with a friend to take me to get my car the next day. After everything was in order, I knew the night was going to be a good one.
I got to the restaurant and we had a great time. At the end of the night I went to the bartender and told him I wanted to use the Alert Cab program to get home. The bartender took my keys from me and made a call to the local cab company.
When the cab arrived, the bartender gave my keys to the cab driver and the cab driver took me home. When I arrived home I tipped the driver, he gave me my keys and told me to have a good night.
I didn't pay much and I got home safe. After experiencing how easy this program is, I recommend to everyone that is intending to go out and drink to use the Alert Cab program.
The fee for driving under the influence is $992 in South Carolina, and the fee for using the alert cab is free.
There is a possibility that you can get home safe, but there's also a possibility that you might kill yourself or someone else on your way home. So please think before you drink.
For more information on Alert Cab, visit these links:
· http://www.cofc.edu/betterthingstodo/Fun_things_to_do/Alert_Cab_Merchants.doc
· http://www.abwholesaler.com/SouthernEagle/Custom/Alertcab