What do you do with a drunken player?

[Xyxox]

shave his belly with a rusty razor
shave his belly with a rusty razor
shave his belly with a rusty razor
early in the morning.

Make him fight a pun-pun kobold,
Make him fight a pun-pun kobold,
Make him fight a pun-pun kobold,
Earl-aye in the morning

note: We could continue this for quite a while as that's how the sea chanty goes.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

OP, did this story take place at GenCon?

 

[Zoycitenega]

Make him fight a pun-pun kobold,
Make him fight a pun-pun kobold,
Make him fight a pun-pun kobold,
Earl-aye in the morning

note: We could continue this for quite a while as that's how the sea chanty goes.

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter,
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter,
Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter,
Early in the evening

 

[Midknightsun]

While I'm a firm proponent that people should live their lives how they wish and choose, I'm also fervent that no one should have to tolerate inconsiderate and insulting behavior. Period.

I endorse the above message.

As many others, I have no problem with people having a few brews or whatnot during the game, but getting drunk or stoned rarely turns out well. That is, unless you're comfortable with the people you play with and their all happy go lucky when buzzed (like myself). Doesn't sound like that was the case here, though. Since you were just visiting it kind of limits your ability to do anything. Was it me, and depending on my mood that day, I'd have probably excused myself from the game.

The "that's the way he is" line is a decent explanation, but a poor excuse. Your friends shouldn't continue to put up with that. Being said though, arguing with drunks is pretty much an exercise in futility. They should catch him the next morning when he's dried out a bit and told him to knock it off or not to come back. Otherwise, its largely their own fault for allowing it to go on, but perhaps I'm just getting grumpy in my old age.

I've had an experience or two like this as well, so I can sympathize. In one case the drunk decided to show us all how to load his handgun at the gaming table . . . . yeah, and all I was thinking was how this would look in the news the next day if his trigger finger slipped
"ritual slaying linked to D&D". I had a talk with the player later and made it clear that that would never happen again. Fortunately, he knew he screwed up, and learned from his mistake.

 

[Janx]

Make 'im take 20, kicks to dice bag
Make 'im take 20, kicks to dice bag
Make 'im take 20, kicks to dice bag
earl' aye in the mornin...

what do ya do with a drunken player
what do ya do with a drunken player
what do ya do with a drunken player
earl' aye in the mornin...

 

[Umbran]

I don't mind a player having a beer at my table (none of them do, but I wouldn't mind it). However, I would not tolerate disruptive drunkenness - I'd take the guy aside (or allow the host to do so, if he or she preferred) and give him his choices, and being at the table would not be one of them.

A player who made a habit of it would not be invited back to my table.

 

[Ry]

Funny, for us not-getting-drunk during gaming kind of became emblematic of the group. Kind of a high-school "we're nerds, we're not getting smashed on the weekend, and we own it." that just persisted to the present.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

shave his belly with a rusty razor
shave his belly with a rusty razor
shave his belly with a rusty razor
early in the morning.

I am ashamed of this community that it took until post 20 for this song to start. GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT, PEOPLE! He asked what you do with a drunken player and even tagged it "pirates!"

 

[jaerdaph]

Yeah, drinking and roleplaying games don't mix well. Unless we are playing beer and pretzel games or social board games, we don't drink when we get together for a game night.

However, if you aren't a regular member of that group and they don't have a problem with the guy, don't do anything, but don't join them again.

Edit: I didn't see the part about drunk driving in the OP. If I had seen the guy drinking and driving, especially if he left the house and got back in the car, I would have called the police and reported his license plate. That puts people's lives at risk and is far more serious than some drunk ruining the fun during a game.

 

[SiderisAnon]

I am afraid that in this case, where you are a visiting player in someone else's game, you either have to suck it up and play on or you have to get up and leave. It all depends on how much it bothers you. (Obviously, you chose to keep playing in order to see your friends.) It's their group; you're just visiting.

Unfortunately, you cannot help people who won't help themselves and are unwilling to let you help them, especially if they don't see a need for help. I am referring to the gaming group, not the drunk player. (Which is a whole other issue.) If they don't see a problem with this guy showing up drunk and being a jerk, then don't worry about it. I know two brothers who like to game while drinking and/or drunk, and they're a pain to deal with when they're like that, which is why I don't game with them and most of the people I game with now won't either. That's our choice. *shrug* Your friends simply made a different one.

Now, on the subject of the drunk having driven himself to the session in that condition or any possibly psychological issues associated with all this, that's a whole other story. However, I don't think that was the point of the OP, so I'll let it go.