Is it normal to fail to pay attention to stoplights under influence of alcohol

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9 Comments

Just today I went to a restaurant and had a beer, and then when I was walking to a transit station, I came to a traffic intersection. Of course, unless you have never came across an urban traffic light before, you know you are supposed to wait until the light changes to green and sign says it's safe to walk for the side you are crossing to. The problem is that my mind mixed up the signals. I misinterpreted the signal to cross to the side I was supposed to cross to for the signal to cross to the other side, and when I saw the light turn green for the direction I wasn't going to cross, I thought it was the cue to cross in the direction I wanted to walk to. I didn't realize the green light and walk signal was for the OTHER direction until the cars started honking at me, and I experienced an "Oh shi-" moment and bolted back to the sidewalk.

Before some of you guys accuse me of being underage or drinking too much, I am 21 (which is already 2 years ahead of the legal drinking age in my jurisdiction) and I only had one standard sized beer of normal alcohol percentage, not a spirit or wine. However, this moment caught me by surprise and made me think.

Is it normal for intoxicated (not drunk) people to sometimes fail to pay attention and interpret stoplights properly?

Voting Results
78% Normal
Based on 18 votes (14 yes)
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Comments ( 9 )
  • ______________
    8 years ago

    I wouldn't know personally. I find fruit juice tastes much better than any alcoholic drink I've cared to take a sip of.

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  • thegypsysailor
    8 years ago

    There are some people who just can't handle alcohol. You sound like one of them. It doesn't matter how much they drink, the stuff just fucks them up.
    I suppose you could keep drinking until you kill yourself, or you could do the intelligent thing and just not drink any more. Not much of a hard choice as I see it, but I haven't had 'one standard sized beer of normal alcohol percentage' today.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      I have been drinking since I was 19 and I have never run into this situation before. I was also daydreaming at the same time and I was in another city. Perhaps it was just me too used to drinking on my campus, where the road between my dorm and the bar was essentially a pedestrian mall with little to no traffic.

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  • G)d
    8 years ago

    Sounds fun! Drinking and driving is definitely one of my favorite activities. I like how everything sort of moves in slow-mo. You should do it more often. Nothing like going down a scenic country road after three or four 40s.
    Try taking adderall while you're on it, it allows to drink while also maintaining more control and focus (P.S. unlike caffeine, it really works).

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      Don't EVER drink and drive.

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  • Cuntsiclestick
    8 years ago

    Unfortunately, people do this all the time in my town. You could of gotten hurt or someone else could have gotten hurt after crashing into a pole(or another car)to avoid hitting you. I know of cases where people were sued after causing someone to crash. Be careful next time, or you could wind up in serious trouble.

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  • victorygin
    8 years ago

    Sounds like the kind of mistake anyone could make if they weren't paying full attention. I've done silly stuff like that sober.
    But maybe you did feel a little bit loosey-goosey after the one beer and just lost track of what was going on for a second. One beer is hardly "intoxicated" though, c'mon!

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      8 years ago

      I was daydreaming and fantasizing at the same time when I was crossing the road, too.
      Perhaps it was an additive effect.

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      • victorygin
        8 years ago

        Yeah, exactly. That's what I think, too. You were in an unfamiliar place, daydreaming a little bit, mind on autopilot, slightly relaxed after a beer = made an honest mistake.
        Totally understandable. This has very little to do with you drinking, imo.
        It's normal for completely sober people to make mistakes like this, too.

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