Well, I live in a little village opposite the pub. It's not a bad little pub get a few chav wannabies from the next town, but generally it's a locals pub.

Since we moved here I have noticed that some cars are regularly parked there all afternoon and I mean ALL afternoon and they are not in there drinking orange juice. It has dawned on me over the last year that drink driving is absolutely rife here and the village turns a blind eye to it. Every one knows and just seems to accept it! I'm not a psycho cutain twitcher, honestly!! Just that I'm in and out of the house all day doing school runs etc, and you notice these things!

Now I come from a family that would never even dream of driving and drinking. Among my social group it was always a no-no, so this is hard for me to deal with.

My dh went to the pub at the other end of the village, and apparently they would all talking about it openly - it's like is somehow ok around here?? I have never lived in a little village like this - it is lovely but very different! Is this just what happens in rural areas?

Today I came back from toddler group and one of the regulars was waiting in his car down the road at 11.40am (pub opens at 12). He pulls into the pub as it opens. What's that about? Is this serious alcoholism?

I don't know if I should do something.

A disillusioned Mims xx

I’m afraid this is a regular occurrence in small villages. I now live in Surrey but used to live in a small town in the Cotswolds and it was rife there. Hopefully now Christmas is coming there will be a crackdown as there is most years and you will see the problem lesson. And yes to your question is this serious alcoholism, I’m afraid it is. I worked as a bar maid in several pubs when I was younger and you would be surprised just how many people spend most of their day in there. Sorry to be stereotypical but I found it was usually retired older men. Most of them kept themselves to themselves and did not get drunk as such and cause other people to be comfortable. It is just a way of life for them.
In regards to what you should do only you can make this decision. I think you should definitely make sure your children are aware that some drivers around your area may not have as quick reactions as normal drivers and they should always take care but whether you do anything as in raise the matter with the police it is up to you. I am sure they already know about it but some prompting from members of the public may have an effect on their actions.

It is definitely a way of life in small villages. I went for an interview at a restaurant/pub (has 2 AA rosettes so not exactly a little run down bar) and was told in my interview to turn a blind eye to drinking and driving 'because we're rural so everyone drives here' Needless to say I turned down the job and never go there.

I'm not sure what you can do about it though sorry. Just make sure your kids know that just because it is accepted in your village doesn't mean it is acceptable iykwim x

Please dont shoot me for my answer....

yes it is usual to happen in small villages - (I HATE this but) the pub I used to own relied heavily on people like that to stay afloat. I did get fed up of it in the end though and sold the pub (was amongst other reasons like being pregnant and not agreeing with it).

It is entirely up to you what to do about it - bear in mind how you get on with people in the village, if they would find out who reported them, and what the effect on the pub could be. Also be aware that your kids must be safe and are the first priority... its not an easy decision to make!

xxx

I would agree that it is fairly usual, used to see it in the pup near my mum and dads where I worked for a short while. It used to annoy the crap out of me then, but if it was opposite my house, now I've got kids, I'd be on the phone to crimestoppers!! TBH I'm not sure I'd even care if people found out it was me. Drink driving kills, usually inocent pedestrians and other motorists, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened when I could have done something to prevent it. Only you can decide whats the right thing for you to do though hun.
xx

We holiday annually in a small village and its rife there as well. Its very rural,but every few hundred yards down the roads there are flowers laid and I bet more often than not drink has been involved. Its a very hard subject for me - I drank and drove once or twice many foolish years ago and although was never caught I regret it so much now. The thought of my children doing similar at 17/18 makes me feel sick. Then on my 21st birthday a friend who had argued with his wife decided to drive home from the hotel bladdered and killed himself leaving 2 young boys. He was lucky in a way because he didnt kill/injure anyone else. Its up to you what you do, but like bedhead I personally would report it.

I think yes, it is all too common. I've lived in a rural area most of my life, though it's not exactly a tiny village, and it definitely goes on a lot.

My hubby is a fireman and once he had to deal with a drunk driver who only lived a 10 minute walk from pub but had driven back bladdered and crashed into a wall. His leg was mangled but he was so out of it on booze he didn't know. Apparently he would sometimes get a shot of vodka to drink as he drove home. Luckily he only harmed himself, but in so many cases it's innocent drivers in other cars, or pedestrians who are killed and injured.

I'd say if you know some people are regularly drink driving, then call the police and let them know. No-one has to know you've done it. It's scary to think but your kids might be at risk even walking on pavements if there are drunk drivers around. But sadly even a fine or ban might not stop some people from drink driving as to them it's a way of life.

xxx

Thanks to all of your replies, they were honest and intelligent.

It's sad that this seems to be the case all over - wd never have guessed it would be rife in the cotswolds too! I suppose in a weird way I am strangely comforted as well - I didn't move to 'wrong' village, it happens all over (if that makes sense!).

The more I think about it it now, the more obvious it is - wonky and bashed road signs, walls mysteriously smashed into, a roundabout on the A20 ploughed into!

I am still mulling over what to do (if anything). I have thought of an anonymous crimestoppers type call. The only thing is that as a couple of you said - it tends to be old/retired/workmen men whose way of life is the lunchtime/ afternoon in the pub. It's really difficult, because deep down I feel the right thing to do would be to report it, but somehow I can't bring myself to! Not at the moment anyway. I think I am a 'let sleeping dogs lie' person by nature. However, the whole drinking and driving thing makes me so angry, who knows - one of these days I may well see red and make that call.....

Anyhow ladies thanks so much for your replies to this, they really did help me.

mxxxxxxx

If it's a locals pub and it's a small village why can't they get off their fat **** and walk to the pub instead of putting other people's - and their own - lives at risk??!!

LOL ccbmommy, I know!!! I'm sure some of them only live a 10 min walk away! Unfortunately quite a few of them are elderly, and probably could not make the walk (it's uphill LOL). This is making me very angry, but also sad at the same time...

Mx