question

I'm just interested in knowing right now, I'd say NO I know plenty of people who have gotten DUIs who are not alcholics. Never had one myself. I'm wasted right now BTW.

I'm neither an alcoholic nor the recipient of a DUI.

I think our country is too concerned with labeling someone as a "problem" and I don't think a DUI necessarily constitutes that.

I don't drink much.

I don't. I don't think a person has to be an alcoholic to get behind the wheel after 3 drinks.

I think your question is interesting because so many states have imposed mini 'rehab' programs to dui offenders. While I'm not opposed to harsh punishments for dui offenses, I wonder what good, if any, these programs do. If someone isn't an alcoholic, is it really going to change anything regarding their drinking behavior, and if someone is, is a forced attending of AA for several weeks or a weekend in a rehab going to change that?

I would tend to say yes, in a way...

A person with a drinking problem doesnt have to drink every night. Its someone that makes questionable or bad decisions WHILE drinking- no matter the frequencey.

You can get drunk every night, and you just do it to chill... you sit at home and watch movies, or hang out with friends, or whatever, and i wouldnt say you have a drinking problem.

You only drink once a month, but you insist on driving home drunk, thats a problem related to drinking. Its not alcohalism, but it most definately is a "drinking problem."- because your actions are changed for the negative as a result of drinking.

No. The two are pretty much mutually exclusive.

DUI as in driving under influence? If so anyone who does has got a problem whichever way you look at it.

The clinical definition of alcoholism requires more than just driving drunk. If they do it often, you're getting closer.

Do they have a "problem"? Maybe. Let's hope we always wake up the next day and go, "shit! What was I thinking?"

great post

Someone who drives while intoxicated doesn't necessarily have a drinking problem, but they have a problem with being an idiot.

I think this pretty much sums up that other very insightful post very well. Good job!

I vote going to Germany's system - 1 DUI and you can never drive again, plus huge fines and jail time to boot. I also say base the DUI charge on the physical exam, not the BAC, because unless you test yourself before you get behind the wheel, you can't know that. It's a lot easier to tell if you are physically impaired however, and I know people that are physically impaired after 2 drinks, and ones that arent after 8.

Never drive again? Across the board? No exceptions for varying degrees of intoxication? I'd feel bad for some kid who drove home tipsy and got pulled over and arrested, because when he's 50 and would never consider doing it again he's already been permanently banned from driving.

I wouldn't. Show some responsibility, and accountability for your own actions. If you're old enough to legally drive a car, you're old enough to understand the responsibility involved with driving a car.

That's the biggest problem with society today...everyone is a victim.

Yeah, that's fine, but I'd be willing to bet that in Germany the legal limit is a bit higher than .07. I would support a one strike and you're out as long as the threshold is some level at which the person was actually significantly impaired. Something like .15 would do it.

--PunkDavid