Often, people around drunk drivers know what is happening. If those individuals could be held accountable for a crash, they might be more willing to intervene. The possibility that everyone in the car—and not just the driver—could be charged might also give drinkers additional motivation to make plans ahead of time for a safe ride home. And the law already allows people to be held responsible as accomplices or accessories for other crimes. If you drive the getaway car instead of pointing the gun at the bank teller, the law still considers you guilty of armed robbery. Why should drunk driving be any different, especially when someone is hurt or killed?

Stopping a friend from driving under the influence of alcohol may be one of the most important decisions you ever make. But convincing an inebriated buddy won’t always be as easy as it sounds. After all, it’s not your friend you’re talking to – it’s the booze and their certainty that they’re okay.

Become the key controller. If your friend has driven to a party and gets drunk, your only recourse is to keep them from operating their vehicle, which they can’t do without their car keys. Hiding their keys will require you to dust off your acting skills from freshman year drama class; but don’t sweat it. Even if you’re not that great an actor, it’s pretty easy to fool someone who is drunk with any excuse you need to keys for – getting something you left behind in the car, moving it out of the driveway or under cover, needing to use the car briefly, etc.

• One way of doing this is to tell your friend that you’re going to the liquor store and need to use their car. If they’re drunk enough, they will forget after a few minutes. If they do remember, and confront you about it, say you changed your mind but don’t bring up the keys.
• If you do get the keys, consider shifting the car. When your friend complains they can’t find it, shrug and suggest they stay with you instead.

Be prepared to be assertive. Your drunken friend may bring up accusations of you trying to control them or spoiling the fun. Simply be prepared for this and don’t take it on board. Instead, stay polite and calm and simply firmly tell them over and again that you care about them and that this is why you are preventing them from harming themselves or potentially others.

• Speak softly and calmly at all times. Avoid saying anything embarrassing or belittling; the anger receptors are on high alert when drunk. And don’t provoke them into a confrontation, physical or verbal.
• Don’t give in. Keep telling your friend that you care about them and that you are not going to let them do something harmful.