Dogs Not Drinks

In the category, “What are politicians thinking?” I am happy to see that we Americans are not alone in this world.  This morning I was listening to BBC radio and an Irish Councilman was being interviewed because his district is considering giving out permits to certain citizens to drive drunk.  That’s right, people can apply to have their legal blood alcohol limit raised.

I was dumbfounded about why a government would do this and even more so when the Councilman explained their reasoning for considering this change in their law.  Apparently there have been a lot of suicides among the lonely single rural Irishmen and a councilor feels like when the drunk driving laws were not so strict these lonely people would spend more time down in their local pub surrounded by friends and fellow drinkers.

The politician went on to say that only people who lived on country roads where there was not much traffic would probably be approved for these “Go on and get drunk” driving permits.  I wonder if they would have to prove that they were suicidal first before they would qualify.  Would killing someone else while they were drunk driving perhaps cause them to be more suicidal?

I understand that suicide is a real problem, and loneliness may be increasing in our ever more isolated society, but encouraging people to drive drunk does not seem to be the answer.  In fact, encouraging depressed people to drink is probably wrong to begin with.

I file this under, “Solving one problem by creating another.”  Granted suicides may be up in Ireland, but it might not just be due to the fact that people are lonelier because they are afraid to go to their local and have a pint for fear of being arrested.  The economy is not so great in that part of the world.  That could be adding to the stress people are feeling.  Should their government raise the drunk driving level for every point the GDP goes down?

I have a different solution for the lonely and potentially suicidal Irish people.  Instead of encouraging drinking which not only causes problems with driving, but with waistlines and general health, promote dog ownership.  Dogs are the best companions, they love you unconditionally and give their masters a good reason to get up in the morning and stick around.  Walking a dog gives you more endorphins than downing a beer and lager never loved you back like your best canine companion.