The pub crawls that attract the most attention and participation are the ones where the combination of willing participants and proximity of excellent bars are at a perfect premium. The crawl part, of course, comes from a nod to drunken stumbling, but also highlights that for these, driving is not necessary, because the distance between bars is negligible. It’s a fine idea, and one that emphasizes that there are no excuses for drunken driving. Even cities as occasionally uninhabitable as Minneapolis in the winter, or Phoenix in the summer, have pub crawls at intemperate times that can be wonderful evenings for groups intent on having fun.
In order for any kind of pub events to be successful, there has to be a designated driver for every party. This includes evenings where there are pub crawls, and any other evening for that matter. When the activity is drinking, someone needs to be in charge of getting people home safely. In order to be a good designated driver, one doesn’t have to know a lot about niche wheels or other automotive details, but has to meet some very simple requirements.
The very first requirement for a designated driver, is, obviously, to not drink. Avoiding drinking can sounds like an easy task, because it really means not doing anything, but in atmospheres where the social rewards from drinking are high, it can be tough. Fortunately, times have changed quite a bit from the last generation, and being the driver is now often a very positive thing. Because it is a selfless service for one’s friends and companions, most bar owners and even most barflies like to give a nod to the drivers in the crowd. There are often free drinks, non-alcoholic of course, like fountain drinks or coffee offered by the management. And one of the great benefits, of course, is that rare pleasure one can get from observing an evening sober, watching the progressive loss of motor control and judgment from the people you love.
Knowledge of complicated transmissions, ultra wheels, or even how to change a tire, are not necessary, but a clear head, an ability to not drink, along with a valid driver’s license, and a big heart, are the ingredients for what it takes. Not everyone is meant to be the designated driver, perhaps, but it’s something that everyone should at least try, if not for the interesting experience of being outside the norm for a night, then at least for the chance to be helpful to one’s friends.
