Well, you’re going to have to accept the fact that your friends may be a lot more screwed than you are. They’ve got lots of alcohol on board, and it’s obvious because one of them is throwing up.

You however, are stuck in limbo. You aren’t intoxicated and probably aren’t giving off any signs to suggest that you are, but you’re in a car with a bunch of drunk kids, and that cop has the authority to breathalyze you because you are behind the wheel. There’s a risk that the half-beer you drank will show up, and that’s a DUI, because you’re underage.

When that police officer rolls up and you roll down that window, be sure to ask him, “Why have you contacted us tonight?”

He has to give you a reason, and it’s probably going to be your hammered friend blowing chunks in the backseat. Regardless, you’ve asserted compliance with the officer, which will hopefully get his eyes off you. He’s going to ask you a lot of questions, so keep your answers brief, direct and (mostly) honest.

You are driving your friends home. You have no idea if or how much they have been drinking. While they are visibly intoxicated, if you can avoid divulging the fact that you were at a party with them to the officer, there’s a good chance he won’t suspect you of drinking and just acknowledge you as the sober driver that you are.

You are not obligated to tell the officer where you or your friends were beforehand, and the people still at the party will thank you for that.

If you keep your head on straight, it’s likely that the officer will turn his attention to your drunken friends. This probably won’t turn out so well for them, but it might help keep your butt out of jail.

ealinko@mavs.coloradomesa.edu