the lament of the designated driver

[Lerkfish]

I have not had a drink since 1992, but I have no problem being with other people while they're drinking.... up to a point.
I have two friends that I like a lot to hang out with when they're sober or only slightly buzzed. I've been the designated driver for them now on 4 outings. 2 outings have been ok.
2 have not. The previous bad outing ended up with me having to put my arm around my friend and walk him away from the bouncer he was trying to start a fight with...and then frantically searching for him all through the club only to find him wandering aimlessly out in the parking lot. He remembered none of it.

then, this weekend, they invite a third person that I don't know. Everything is relatively fine until the the third person disappears. I find him out in the parking lot by the dumpster. I ask him if he's ok, and he says yes, but he doesn't come in. I go back in and try to hint to my other friends that I think THEIR friend isn't feeling well. They don't want to leave, they want to stay until last call.
so I go back outside to see the new friend puking on the side of the building (I'm 50 years old, for god's sake, I thought I left all this behind in college). I get him cleaned up and sit him in my car (all the while hoping he doesn't puke on my leather seats). I go back in and plead with the other friends that their friend wants to leave. They're pleasant but they don't budge.
finally, after the bar closes (while I"ve been outside with the sick friend) they come out to the car. First thing they want to do is to go to Denny's to get something to eat. I finally convince them to let me drop off the new friend at the hotel and then I drive them to dennys ( because I"m afraid they'll drive themselves)

many more adventures later, I'm finally getting back to my apt. at 4:30 am.

I hate this, because I'm a really easy going guy, but I"m tired of being chauffer and babysitter to extremely drunk friends.
I resolved I was going to say something the next day, but when I pull up, they fall all over themselves thanking me for taking care of them.


gah!

I'm not expecting advice necessarly, I just wanted to vent. thanks.

this is further complicated because I'm hoping one of the friends will get me a line to a job since I"m unemployed.

[Bossy Monkey]

1. Sorry to hear it and good luck with the employment hunt

It may be that the way they fell over themselves thanking you means that they realize that they crossed the line. Hopefully in the future, outings with them will be more like the earlier, more fun ones.

[MrScorpio]

2. I feel you, Bro

Babysitting drunk adults is rarely fun.