Drunks have no rights....right?

[SHvar]

Exactly, you can be legally impaired in any state without being over .08, that is but one guideline. You can be swerving, stumbling, slurring speech, or any indicator of being impaired, .08 means nothing for DUI.
So, this also stands to reason that in court your behavior, boisterous, stumbling, slurring, etc can be held against your favor in a case of self defense.
It would go something like "so you were consuming alcohol, the amount does not matter, the fact is your judgement was impaired, therefore you cannot judge properly what actions were justifiable."
Aside from not enjoying drinking much at all anymore, I just dont think its worth it when in places outside your home.

 

[HKUSP45C]

You can be swerving, stumbling, slurring speech, or any indicator of being impaired, .08 means nothing for DUI.

Well, it works both ways really. If you're slurring and stumbling about but under .08 you're still intoxicated. However, if you're completely lucid and have no discernable intoxication symptoms but are OVER .08 you're also, still, intoxicated.

Neat, huh?

ETA: Completely anecdotally, I have never spoken to a Texas law enforcement officer who had any problems with a CHL holder having a couple of drinks socially or at dinner while carrying. In fact, the last time it came up was at a Baptism a few weeks ago when a cop (Host's Father) asked my spouse and I if we carried and I said "normally I do but I left it at home today since I planned on having a few beers" His response was "I don't give a rat's expletive if you've been hammering beers since sunup, you paid for the license, you should carry."

Obviously, that's bad advice but it is indicative (albeit probably the most extreme) of most LEO conversations I've had on the subject. Which probably number in the couple of dozen in the years I've carried. Cops seem to understand that the majority of CHL holders are not the people they have to worry about (again in my admittedly limited experience) and also seem to think that most people who carry wouldn't "pound beers since sunup" in the first place.

YMMV

 

[bear71]

Thanks to everyone for the great posts and particularly zoog and rifleman for their contribution.

It appears the best solution is to always carry but not drink, even at a wedding or other function where it is typical to do so in the spirit of the event. Fourth of July is coming up, lots of parties and drinking over that holiday.

I'll be carrying a two gun rig over the holiday and festively partying but without the alcohol. Not really too much different than what I would normally have done with the exception that I would have put the guns down on the 4th proper to have some drinks.

One other thing, regarding the original post. I swhould let it be known that I drink on maybe two or three occasions a year, very rarely. Prior to this June wedding it was at Christmas. The point is that where there is drinking, particularly outside the home, trouble can arise very quickly and out of thin air where it may be little expected.

 

[Art Eatman]

Good closing summation.