Dry Club or Not?

[Pirate looks at --]

I have a feeling we are in for a lively discussion on this subject.

Way to go Pirate

Our club does not have a written policy on the use of alcohol. I have been in the club since 2001 and am now the "eldest long standing" member.

We have never had an issue with drinkers, or had to drive someone home because they came to the meeting blitzed.

Peer pressure seems to be the rule. Most do not drink and ride. Our meal stop is at the end of each ride and there are a couple that will have a beer with their sandwitch or meal--myself included--sometimes. I have never seen anyone put down more than one beer--most of the time they drink about half. The meal lasts for an hour or more. The group breaks up at the restaurant and most do their own ride home.

DUI is a hefty fine now in Alaska and they are putting people in jail for many years if they are involved in an accident/death situation.

Ideally, the drinking of alcohol should not be mixed with motorcycling or any driving and should be done after the ride and at home. Realistic: Similar to the above is what is going to happen.

My two cents on the subject.

Thanks for the reply. I am sure the discussion will get deep. I personally have no issue with people that want to have a drink on a ryde, and in the correct situation (not a club ryde) I will have that beer too. I am just interested in the input from all angles. Thanks!

[robmorg]

We have a chapter of SRA here in Sacramento and we have made the decision that we would be a "Dry Club", ie we don't allow the consumption of alcohol on any of our Club Sanctioned Rydes. I am totally in favor of this as I don't want anything clouding my mind while I am ryding, and I recall the scenery much better that way. This has caused some issue with some members and I was wondering, how do other clubs out ther handle this? Is alcohol consumption tolerated out there? Do you I force any kind of limits if you are not dry? I would be interested in your responses.

Thanks,

It has never come up at our club. I've seen one or two guys have one beer with lunch, but have never observed anyone drink any more than that while on a ride. Frankly it struck me as odd that this would even be an issue with an SRA club. What caused it to be a concern at your club? Were there members who were consuming too much alcohol on rides? Does SRA require that this issue be addressed in the club rules?

[pitzerwm]

Unlike a Harley club, the average age of a Spyder owner is probably 60. Most people 60 unless an alcoholic controls their drinking. Making rules probably wouldn't really fix anything and might turn off some. I'd think that if you had a member that was a problem you could deal with that one member. I'm personally not much of a joiner because that a lot of "clubs" make a bunch of unnecessary rules which are then unevenly enforced.

IMO I'd leave it alone. Deal with any problem on a needed basis.

Personally, I drink some and really DO NOT care for a person that can't handle their booze. They are excluded from my circle.

[viperryder]

We ryde with GWRRA members most of the time. We have drinkers, myself included, but when the bike is put up for the day or night we will at times have some alcohol, but not to extremes. This is sort of an unwritten rule, but everybody follows it. Good points.

[Ex Winger]

I belong to a CMC club where they have a no alcohol policy.It,s all across Canada and I think it,s a great idea out on club rides.If I,m with a buddy out for a Sunday ride we,llstop for lunch have a nice meal and a cold beer.Sit and talk probably an hour or so.Then finish our ride.
Bill

[Pirate looks at --]

Unlike a Harley club, the average age of a Spyder owner is probably 60. Most people 60 unless an alcoholic controls their drinking. Making rules probably wouldn't really fix anything and might turn off some. I'd think that if you had a member that was a problem you could deal with that one member. I'm personally not much of a joiner because that a lot of "clubs" make a bunch of unnecessary rules which are then unevenly enforced.

IMO I'd leave it alone. Deal with any problem on a needed basis.

Personally, I drink some and really DO NOT care for a person that can't handle their booze. They are excluded from my circle.

This was never a problem. Just a decision made when the club was formed.

[SpyderAnn01]

Pirate, I think that you guys have the most organized SRA club and I commend you for having this rule. Nevada just changed the classification of a Spyder from a motorcycle to a tri-mobile. Tri-mobiles in NV are not required to have a motorcycle endorsement or to wear a helmet. I am seriously considering changing our SRA bylaws to require all riders wear helmets and proper riding gear on club rides and that newcomers be required to pass some sort of skills test. The issue of drinking has never come up on any of our rides and I can honestly say that I have never seen one of our members order a drink when we have stopped. Sometimes we meet for dinner and I think some may have had drinks then but we are not riding to or from these dinners as a group.

I guess it boils down to do your members want to follow this rule or not, and if not, then they should be removed from the club.

[mxz600]

It's the law Don't Drink and Drive. jtpollock

Technically you are wrong.

You can't drink while driving and you can't drive if you are over the legal limit. But it is not illegal to drink a beer and then drive.

[flaggerphil]

Safety?
While drinking and driving is unwise, one beer is not going to affect your cognitive abilities.

You don't know that. It completely depends on the person drinking the beer. Safety? Yes, safety. The overall safety of the group...regardless of their ability...is going to be greater if there is no drinking.

"While drinking and driving is unwise..." is one of the most ridiculous understatements I've seen on here. Drinking and driving isn't "unwise", it's stupid.

[NorCalBud]

Lets put this into some further perspective... After all, this is California, where the possibility of litigation waits around each and every corner.
We as a club, don't have deep pockets. Heading something like a lawsuit off at the pass is, IMHO a prudent stand.
It only takes 1 "dumas" with a low alcohol threshold and the inability to take personal responsibility, to ruin the lives of every member of the club. I certainly don't believe its in any way based in a morality judgment or pushing a pro-temperance movement. It's a simple case of CYA/better safe than sorry. If that rule doesn't suit you...It's easy enough to find a club with rules that do.

[flaggerphil]

If you have a DUI you cannot enter Canada. They consider it an aggravated felony up there I just heard this when John Stamos (Full House) got picked up over the weekend. He is filming in Canada and if convicted he won't be anymore.

That's absolutely true. We race up in Canada and there are always people in the race series who can't go because Canada won't let them in because they've had a DUI.

[flaggerphil]

It's all about choice.

Chris

Not for drinking and driving. At least if I'm understanding you correctly.

[flaggerphil]

Technically you are wrong.

You can't drink while driving and you can't drive if you are over the legal limit. But it is not illegal to drink a beer and then drive.

Again, it depends on how the person's body reacts to the alcohol. If someone drinks one beer and is impaired...and there are people out there like that...it is illegal.

Do. Not. Drink. And. Drive.

[Pirate looks at --]

Pirate, I think that you guys have the most organized SRA club and I commend you for having this rule. Nevada just changed the classification of a Spyder from a motorcycle to a tri-mobile. Tri-mobiles in NV are not required to have a motorcycle endorsement or to wear a helmet. I am seriously considering changing our SRA bylaws to require all riders wear helmets and proper riding gear on club rides and that newcomers be required to pass some sort of skills test. The issue of drinking has never come up on any of our rides and I can honestly say that I have never seen one of our members order a drink when we have stopped. Sometimes we meet for dinner and I think some may have had drinks then but we are not riding to or from these dinners as a group.

I guess it boils down to do your members want to follow this rule or not, and if not, then they should be removed from the club.

Thanks Ann,

the he officers of our organization have done a great job of keeping us organized, and I am in total agreement that the no alcohol rule will serve us well.

[bruiser]

If the club is chartered or has written by-laws, the rules for consuming should be included there. If it's not in the by-laws or charter, it should be considered by the officers, then brought up to the general membership for a vote. If there is no charter or by-laws, I would think it would be up to the general membership to decide what they want to do. One thing to remember, if you wear the patch of your club, you directly represent that club whether you are riding in the group or solo. Your actions, good or bad, reflect on the club as a whole.

It doesn't matter whether you drink or not, we should all be responsible for each other when we ride in a group. Just my opinion.

[PaladinLV]

TOTALLY AGREE

As past Director of Southern Nevada HOG I can say that the vast majority of HOG Chapters (if not all) are DRY. Meaning during the ride no adult beverage. If an overnighter, once we stop . . . party time, but DURING the ride (including pit stops) NO! Additionally, anyone partaking an adult beverage during the ride is politely told they can not continue with us during THAT ride.

There will always be some that are offended by this policy, but for the good of the majority, it's not only wise, but the only choice.

AJ

We have a chapter of SRA here in Sacramento and we have made the decision that we would be a "Dry Club", ie we don't allow the consumption of alcohol on any of our Club Sanctioned Rydes. I am totally in favor of this as I don't want anything clouding my mind while I am ryding, and I recall the scenery much better that way. I have my cocktail when the motorcycle is put away! This has caused some issue with some members and I was wondering, how do other clubs out ther handle this? Is alcohol consumption tolerated out there? Do you I force any kind of limits if you are not dry? I would be interested in your responses.

Thanks,

[PaladinLV]

Ann,
Might I suggest the adjective DOT to the noun helmets!

AJ

Pirate, I think that you guys have the most organized SRA club and I commend you for having this rule. Nevada just changed the classification of a Spyder from a motorcycle to a tri-mobile. Tri-mobiles in NV are not required to have a motorcycle endorsement or to wear a helmet. I am seriously considering changing our SRA bylaws to require all riders wear helmets and proper riding gear on club rides and that newcomers be required to pass some sort of skills test. The issue of drinking has never come up on any of our rides and I can honestly say that I have never seen one of our members order a drink when we have stopped. Sometimes we meet for dinner and I think some may have had drinks then but we are not riding to or from these dinners as a group.

I guess it boils down to do your members want to follow this rule or not, and if not, then they should be removed from the club.

[Bob Denman]

This rider hasn't been invited to the ride; has he?




for the record; the image was staged...

[Pirate looks at --]

This rider hasn't been invited to the ride; has he?




for the record; the image was staged...

You found my old college pic!

[Bob Denman]

You went there also??

[pegasus1300]

I belong to a dry club. It is stated right up front in our invitation to new members when they ask about joining and again if they actually do join.Our club has a religious affiliation (voluntary not official) that does not condone the use of alcohol and when anyone rides with us member or not we ask them to ride by our rules while they are with us.In 25 years we have not had a problem with that. There have been a few who do not subscribe to our beliefs but ride with us anyway because of the dry attitude. We try not to be dogmatic or mean or unfriendly and we aren't going to argue with you the finer points of temperance and abstinence. Our belief system is what it is and the club is organized along the lines of that system. Most people understand that and make decisions accordingly.

[Rockwall]

No alcohol on rides is in our Club's bylaws and that is just the way it is. Everyone accepts it and that's it.

[IGETAROUND]

We do not drink and ride and don't like to be around those that do. The local Harley shop has free beer Saturdays, lots of drinking and I still can't believe that they feel it is ok to have everyone ride in, liquor them all up and then send them back out on the road. Bike nights there are basically the same except the beer isn't free.

I knew there was some trick involved to get people to buy a Harley

[Spyder Tony]

Pirate, I think that you guys have the most organized SRA club and I commend you for having this rule.

Ann...as President of the Sac Chapter, I want to thank you for the kind words. Yes, the rule rubs some the wrong way, but 95% comply with no issue whatsoever. I consume alcohol...but not on Chapter rides. I am fine not having a beer for a few hours, until I get home. The object is to ride and have fun...both of which I can do without alcohol. I have refunded dues paid to those who cannot abide by the rules...but it is a rarity.

[PistonBlown]

Firstly just to say that I hold a "Liquor Licence Controller Qualification", this means I can be the manager/owner of an on-licence or off-licences premise. So the points are based on NZ certification:

• Any amount of alcohol will affect you.
• The body can normally break down one unit* of alcohol per hour. However this can vary and depends on a lot of other factors (size, health, How much food you've eaten, medication, etc).
• Eating before or during drinking will help this process a little - though this is partly because it tends to cuts down consumption.
• Drinking coffee, cold showers, sleeping etc will not speed up this process. Only time lowers your level of intoxication.
• Even if all alcohol has left your system your reactions are still adversely affected until you've also slept.
• If you drink alcohol regularly then there may be less indication of intoxication (i.e. you may feel/appear sober). However your ability to react to unexpected events will still be affected.

* Unit in this case being roughly:

• 1 x 25mg (0.8 US oz) Spirit
• 1/2 to 1/3 a pint of beer or Cider
• 1 to 2/3 a stubbie (330ml bottle) of beer
• 1/2 to 1/3 of a glass of wine

Personally I will never ride a motorbike if I've had a drink, I just don't feel comfortable doing so even if I feel sober. I will have pint of beer and drive a car but only if it's:

• At least 2 hours after drinking and I've consumed food
• At least 3 hours after drinking

However I don't have a problem with others riding/driving if they feel comfortable doing so, are under the limit and are in lower part of category 1 (as part of my original training I learnt how to categorise 4 levels of intoxication)

With the groups I ride with the unwritten rule seems to be no drinking on the run, at the end of the run some people may have a drink - as everyone then heads home in different directions that has no impact on other riders.