Designated Driver... You, my friend, have one of the most important jobs out there. Your Natty Light wasted or Svedka trashed roommates and buddies are going to heavily depend on you. There are multiple ways that you can tackle this job. You can be the DD who doesn't drink but still attends the party, or you can be the DD that simply drives the drunkies where they need to go and picks them up when their night is over. You can require payment in upfront cash, or simply ask for a quick treat from Sheetz on the way back. Either way, you have a job to get done. Don't be fooled by anyone. This is a job of choice, but it's one that needs to be taken seriously. I, myself, am a veteran DD. Because of my experience, I thought I'd take this time to share some of my knowledge on the task, and give the newbies a chance to do the job right.
1. Keep Water Handy
Trick of the trade: always keep at least three full water bottles in your car. Usually, I make sure to pack these away in my car some place that the intoxicated can't find them until after the party. Reason being is that they're more likely to need the water after the party to prevent those nasty drunk habits, so I try to avoid letting them get a quick drink pre-party.
2. Plastic Bags Are Essential
There might be trash or those water bottles to throw away, or... the sometimes inevitable drunk habit of puking can occur. If you're not in a place that you can pull over to the side of the road, a plastic bag can go a long way. Keeping more than one in your car is probably the better option. One might seem like enough, but you can never be sure.
3. Just-In-Case Paper Towels
You're in a moving vehicle, and for a drunk person that could mean missing the bag or their mouth. Have a small role of paper towels in your car just in case somebody needs to wipe away that little bit of throw up or water from their mouth, hair, or clothes. Oh, and there's always a chance that your seat or window might need to be wiped up also. If you have moist towelletes that you stole from Buffalo Wild Wings, that would totally perfect, too.
4. Keep Your Volume Up
This is mostly for the DD who is just dropping the party goers off. I have learned that even when you set a specific time to pick up your friends, nine times out of ten that's never going to be the case. The party could get busted. Someone might drink a little too much. One might get lost. Two might be fighting.... There's an endless list of possibilities that could prevent the perfect plan from staying in place. So it's my last tip that you keep your volume up and your phone close by.
Being a DD can be fun. You get to witness some of your friends act silly or do stupid things that you'll remember forever, especially if you catch it on Snapchat. HOWEVER, being the Designated Driver can also be stressful and messy. You're taking a risk being the DD, and for that I salute you. If you're not the DD, be sure to thank whoever is! They do a lot for you.
