Let’s face it, unless you take a taxi or use public transportation, you and your friends are going to need someone to step up and be the ride home at the end of an evening of partying and ‘raising hell’. And while some might think being the Double D puts a damper on the evening, a safe ride home for you and your friends is undoubtedly the most important part of the fun. Being the Double D doesn’t mean all of the evening’s fun goes out the window. In fact, there are quite a few advantages to being sober during a night out on the town. Here is a list of just a few of the rewards that you can expect to realize during your responsible night out:
Keeping Your Cool. If you are single and hoping to meet someone during your night out, staying sober will allow you to keep your wits and avoid embarrassing yourself during the infamous first-impression. If you are in a relationship, the absence of alcohol will allow you to make good choices and be the voice of reason to your significant other throughout the evening.
Saving Money. Most of the time, the average alcoholic drink costs between $3-6 apiece. Order a soda, ice water or other non-alcoholic beverage (see our ‘mocktails’ section for more info) and avoid throwing away your hard-earned dollars.
Cheap Entertainment. While your friends are buying round after round for each other, they’re getting more and more incoherent as the evening progresses. As the designated driver, you get to sit back with your non-alcoholic beverage and let your friends make you look like a model citizen by comparison. And, typically, your friends will put on an entertaining show—just for you.
A Better Morning. One of the most significant drawbacks of drinking all night is waking up the next morning with an awful hangover. Fortunately for you, non-alcoholic drinks do not have this effect on the body, so you can expect to wake up feeling refreshed and hydrated.
Leave When You Want. Because you took the responsibility of being the designated driver for the night, you get to call the shots (for the most part, anyway). Whether it’s late or you’re simply ready to go home and get in bed, the decision is ultimately up to you. Since you’re the one with the keys, you get to decide when the group calls it a night.
Also: If you happen to meet a potential date during your night on the town and would like to keep the evening going, you’ve already got a set of wheels waiting outside. You’ll look like a hero for taking such good care of your friends. Go for it!
Return of the Favor. Since you are doing your friends a huge favor by taking one for the team tonight, it is only fair for one of them to follow suit next time the group decides to go out. Ideally, a group of friends will have a constant rotation of designated drivers.
As you can see, there are a number of additional perks to being the designated driver. The most important advantage of all, however, is maintaining the responsibility of getting the group home safely.
