Dan Murphy
By: Dan Murphy

If are you out with friends, and see your friend getting behind the wheel of the car in a possibly impaired condition, don’t look the other way. Act quickly to prevent a DUI arrest, or possibly a drunk driving accident.

Often, people don’t realize that they’re legally intoxicated. They may overestimate their capacity to handle alcohol, and may believe that a couple of alcoholic beverages can have no impact on their system at all. The more that they drink, the more their judgment is impaired, so they may not be able to tell how intoxicated they truly are. It’s only later when they’re pulled over by a police officer and arrested for DUI that they realize that they weren’t as sober as they thought after all.

You may find yourself in this situation with a friend sooner than you think. In fact, according to the results of a study, young adults who drink with a large group of friends, are much more likely to drink heavily, and consume a higher number of alcohol beverages, compared to those who are drinking with fewer numbers of friends. The study found that the higher the number of friends that you’re drinking with, the greater the number of alcoholic beverages you are likely to consume.

That automatically translates into a high risk of intoxication. For instance, if you are in a situation like this you are likely more likely to arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or DUI, or DWAI or driving while alcohol impaired.

The researchers recruited 200 young adults in the study. The participants reported how many drinks they were consuming via phone, and how many of their friends were drinking. The researchers found that when there was an increase in the number of friends present, the number of alcoholic beverages consumed per person also increased over one hour.

If you know you are going out drinking with friends, try to prevent these situations by making arrangements for friends to get home safely even before your evening out. Designate a driver, or make arrangements for a pickup service. If you see a friend trying to drive while drunk, gently, but firmly, inform him that you cannot allow him to do so. Tell your friend that you are doing this for his own good, that you care about his safety.

Prepare for some aggression or belligerence from your friend. Alcohol does impair a person’s judgment, and your friend might be angry with you. However, remain firm. If possible, and if you are sober, drive him home.

If you have been arrested for DUI, you have a lot to lose. A DUI conviction on your record can mean that you are unable to get into a college of your choice. It can also mean problems finding a good job later finding a job. Years after your arrest and conviction, you may find that the conviction continues to show up on your records. To avoid a conviction, talk to a DUI lawyer in Denver. Discuss your case with a criminal defense lawyer in Denver.

Dan Murphy
By: Dan Murphy

Denver criminal defense lawyer Daniel M. Murphy provides clients in the Denver area with aggressive and sympathetic legal representation. He graduated from the University of Denver Law School in 1994 and worked as a public defender before starting his own practice in 1996. He has defended clients accused of the most difficult criminal and alcohol-related charges. He also serves as a Moot Court Judge for Denver-area law students who rely on his mentorship.