The Great Sell Out: Real Estate And The Law

Drink driving can be deadly at worst, and even if you survive the experience and don't end up injuring anyone else, it can be extremely expensive to fight a drink driving charge. If you are convicted, you can lose your license and even spend time in jail.

However, for many people, the thought of paying for cabs can seem expensive. Want to drink and get home safely without spending a lot of extra cash? Here are a few ideas to help you:

1. Throw a party

Perhaps the easiest way to avoid a drink driving charge is to just stay home. Buy a few bottles of wine and invite your friends over. However, the one drawback of this approach is that if your friends drive home drunk, they could hold you liable (as the host of the party and the person serving the alcohol) if they get in an accident.

Make it safe, cheap and fun for everyone involved by hosting a sleepover.

2. Get a designated driver

Whether you are partying at your house or out on the town, a designated driver can help you avoid drink driving while also avoiding a large cab bill. Find one person who doesn't drink or who is willing to put down the bottle for the night and have them be your sober cab. Borrow a minivan or a large SUV so you can fit as many revelers into the back as you like.

3. Preload at home and put the savings toward a cab

Although the health effects aren't great, many Australians preload before a night on the town. That means that instead of spending money on expensive shots and cocktails while you are out, you can split a few bottles of something cheap before you even leave home.

It helps to get the party started, but don't let this practice make you less responsible. Instead, pool together your saved coins and use them on safe transport home. In addition to cabs or trains, you can also use scooter-based services that drive your car home for you.

4. Take bicycles

Avoid a drink driving charge by letting your own steam get you out and back home. Grab your helmets and bicycle. However, don't forget that drinking can also make bicycling dangerous. If you are weaving in and out of lanes of traffic, you may be hit. Instead, plan a route that is relatively safe such as a path that only allows cyclists.

Legally, although it's rare, you can get ticketed for riding while intoxicated just as you can get tickets for public intoxication, but your driving license is not threatened in anyway by bicycling after drinking.