Many college students who party have probably experienced “that one time” – the one when pounding too many Irish Car Bombs or hitting that last beer bong resulted in the spins, mass vomiting and perhaps passing out in some conveniently placed bushes.
Drinking excessively is irresponsible and dangerous, but it’s an individual choice. Problems arise when a student’s binge-drinking puts others at risk.
Typically, the Designated Driver Shuttle helps prevent such situations by keeping drunks from getting behind the wheel. However, DDS personnel are endangered when students become so intoxicated they cannot remember where they live, pass out, vomit in a DDS van or physically threaten the safety of DDS drivers. That’s why DDS recently revised its rules to prohibit giving rides to unconscious passengers, and that’s why we agree with the DDS leadership’s decision last week not to cooperate with the Department of Public Safety if DPS attempts to force DDS to give rides to such people.
Two weekends ago, DPS asked the shuttle service to ferry what a DDS employee called a severely drunk student home because other services that help drunk people were unavailable. Although the employee attempted to follow the new DDS policy by calling the Eugene Police Department and 9-1-1, he could not get help for the student and had to give him a ride home.
Giving rides to students who are sick or incoherent puts DDS drivers and navigators in an unfair position of liability for that student’s welfare. If the person has alcohol poisoning or hurts him or herself, the DDS personnel helping that person will likely feel personally responsible even if they are not legally held accountable.
DDS should continue following its policy of contacting medical authorities when students choose to drink themselves ill. Students also need to take responsibility and consider the risks associated with heavy consumption of alcohol.