Thursday, March 20, 2014

Breaking News: Austin Has A Drinking Problem. In other news, Ducks Quack.

In the words of Joan Rivers, "Oh, GROW UP."

The front page of our local paper addresses what I've been trying to put into words for the past few years. 

"Does Austin Have a Drinking Problem?"

Sadly, shortly after Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about Austin needing an intervention, a drunk driver plowed into a crowded pedestrian South by Southwest crowd, leaving three people dead (so far), and many more with serious injuries.  

I am not going to make this topic about me, but I do feel the need to warn you all who may still be considering a move to the ATX.  Austin will always be a college town.  As long as UT (University of Texas) remains Austin's golden child, you will have to deal with a college mentality of its Austinites.  Not just the college students. People of all ages are trying desperately, it seems sometime, to hold on to those glory years of frat parties, beer bongs and koozies.  Listen, I don't blame the college kids. Knock yourselves out. You are on campus, on foot, young and free.  I take issue however, with anyone driving after "only a few drinks".  It's spread out to the suburbs too.  You see it with all the playscapes in the back areas of many a restaurant, spattered with plenty of beer chugging dads and wine holding moms at the bar nearby.  I can't tell you the amount of liquor breathed parents I encounter at youth sports, live music shows, even the ones  put on by schools, etc. 

I am about as paranoid as one could be regarding drinking and driving.  Maybe it is because our family drives Mini Coopers and I'm afraid one of those drunken large ass white trucks will cross the invisible line between them and us, as we travel legally, along a 60-70 mph winding highway through the hill country.  Maybe it is because my middle child is about to start driving.  It's seriously white knuckle around here under the best of conditions.  Knowing the culture of drinking, even amongst so called "adults" is terrifying.

Now UT thinks it would be a splendid idea to start selling alcohol at their sports events.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Alcohol-sales-to-begin-Friday-at-select-UT-Athletics-events-247635331.html

Make sense?
Yeah, I didn't think so.