A Pint for the Road?

Location of Kilgarvan in Ireland

Ireland is considered a relatively small island in terms of its size and population compared to other European countries. In some areas, the rural Irish countryside can lead one to believe that there isn’t anyone around for miles. In these rural settings the pub often stands in as the de facto community center, where locals can come to socialize, interact, and of course, share a pint or two. The combination of vehicle dependence, rural roads, and a strong pub-based culture makes driving intoxicated in these small villages commonplace and somewhat acceptable in the Irish countryside.
 
But drinking and driving hasn’t been legal for decades, until now. 

Nestled in the southeast corner of the island, council members representing 164 residents of the quaint rural village of Kilgarvan recently voted to legalize drunk driving.

Pub owner and Kerry County Council member Danny Healy-Rae introduced a bill “to issue permits to people living in rural isolated areas to allow them to drive home from their nearest pub after having two or three drinks on little-used roads driving at very low speeds.”[1] Arguing staunchly for this measure, Mr. Healy-Rae proclaimed that citizens driving while intoxicated in rural areas have “never killed anyone” and by giving residents the ability to legally drive while under the influence of alcohol would “bring back a social outlet for lonely people in rural areas that had been lost after stricter drink-drive laws were introduced.”[2] Mr. Healy-Rae also argues that rural isolation brings a certain socially reduced lifestyle. It can cause mental anguish such as severe depression that can lead to other problems, like suicide. The pubs provide the link to social interaction in a place where mobility is limited to the automobile.

Socializing in any Pub in Ireland

The reasoning was favored by the other councilors whom voted, five to three, on the measure with twelve being absent and another seven abstaining from the vote. Since then, the media frenzy surrounding the small town has been astonishing and Mr. Healy-Rae continues to support the measure despite the outpouring of sharp criticism.

Upon the passing of the measure, many are up in arms. Toireasa Ferris, another Kerry County council member, who missed the vote due to being home with a sick child says the city, county and country is being looked upon as a “laughingstock” stating that “rural isolation is a serious issue, but she says it has been obscured by promoting drunken driving as part of the solution.”[1]
 
“Rural areas are among the most dangerous roads in Ireland.”[3] Rural roads typically have higher fatality rates due to the ability to attain higher speeds for longer periods of time, low traffic volumes and a lower chance of law enforcement to catch law breakers.[4] This measure only reinforces the lack of seriousness associated with drinking and driving.

Typical Country Road in Rural Ireland

Many officials call foul and state that the council has no power or authority to change or implement laws. The Irish government still must approve the motion for it to pass. Still others beg the Council to reverse its decision asking about other solutions such as taxi’s or why alcohol must be a necessity for social interaction at all? "Depression causes suicide. It's not caused by not being able to go to the pub. There's more things to do in Kilgarvan than go into your pub."[2]

A pint goes to Mr. Max Scheideman for his assistance in editing this blog post.

Sources:
[1] Permit Allowing a Few Pints Tests a Tolerance for Drunken Driving
[2] Irish council approves motion to allow rural drink-driving
[3] Irish County Votes to Let Some Drive Drunker
[4] Implementing the High Risk Rural Roads Program - FHWA Safety Program