The fight against drunk driving just received a boost in Georgia. A funeral home known as McGuire, Jennings and Miller recently announced an offer to discourage this season’s party goers from drinking and driving.
The program is tagged “Operation stop and Think” and its offers free funerals for those who plan to risk their lives driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on New Year’s eve. The program kicks off on Monday, Dec 28 and ends at Thursday noon, Dec 31. Barry Miller who is one of the originators of the program says the program was designed to help people stop and think before they drink and drive.
To qualify for the free funeral offer, a person has to go to the funeral home, accompanied by their next of kin to sign the offer contract. The person has to present a valid license and then write letters to loved ones to explain why they plan to risk their life by driving after drinking on New year’s eve,
According to Barry, The program was designed to get attention. The aim is to get people to take time to think and then do the right thing. Barry’s family had lost a member who was a victim of drunk driving and so they designed the program so that others would not have to go through the same thing. So far, no one has signed for the offer since its inception 10 years ago. The question now is, will a free funeral offer tempt you to drink and drive this New Year’s Eve? You can call the Miller’s Funeral Home at 706-295-2412 or 706-291-0073.
McGuire Funeral Home Offers Free Burial for Drunk Drivers
While this may seem like a good offer, it isn’t. This will encourage already stupid people to drive drunk because they will not have to lay the burden of a funeral expense on their families.
But, what about the families who loose someone because they CHOSE to drink and drive. What about the pain and suffering you will have helped to cause they families by ENCOURAGING people to have a no care attitude as to whether they drink or not. This is a sure sign of an emotionless society.
It made me sick to read this. WHY? Because of the anguish caused by a drunk driver who took the lives of three people in our family.
We won a settlement that we never collected because he had no insurance or money. My uncle lost his wife and daughter. My father lost his wife, and yes, I lost my mother. The pain never goes away, neither does the emptiness inside knowing that they could have lived long and happy lives, except that they were killed by a drunk driver.
I hope someone who drinks reads this today, and thinks twice before getting the urge to drive. I hope you don’t drink at all. And as for this funeral home, well, I wish you a Happy New Year, and hope and pray that no one kills a loved one from behind the wheel because they have been drinking!
Are you serious? You seem another “success story” of our public education system. Go read the article again but this time don’t skip the words in the middle.
Yes, I will not be mean to this person, but she obviously did not read the entire article, but commented anyway. I think people are extremely quick to call others stupid to make themseleves feel better. There are other ways. Help someone, volunteer….criticisms come easy. We now even criticize those that are trying to do good. As was stated in the article, the people who developed this program also lost a family member to drunk driving.
Read the article – it is to scare people….you have to write letters to loved ones explaining why you are being an idiot!
If a loved one gets killed, sue the insurance company, family, and place that served them
E. Abbott. “This will encourage already stupid people to drive drunk because they will not have to lay the burden of a funeral expense on their families.” Did you read the article? They don’t give free funerals to people who didn’t sign the contract. The article goes on to say no one has signed. The funeral home is NOT encouraging drinking and driving but rather the opposite. If your family members that were killed in the accident were as dim whitted as you- that drunk driver did us all a favor!
That was really uncalled for…. Can you not make your point without insulting someone who lost their family to this issue??
Wow, Lisa. You really embody the spirit of the holidays: heartless and cold-blooded.
And I believe the word is “dimwitted.”
I have never replied to a comment board, but I felt I just had to say something about Lisa’s comment to E. Abbott. Lisa, what an insensitive idiot you are. I agree, E. Abbott may not have understood that this funeral home is REALLY trying to deter drunk driving, but how dare you say something as inhumanely cruel as you did. You were reprehensible when you said the drunk driver who killed her family did the world a favor. It is dumb***** like you thayt the world would be better off without!!!!!
Wendy,
Now you are also out of line.
That was totally inappropriate, Lisa.
You are so insensitive, would you like it if we said that to you?? It makes me wish that you are alone and suffering yourself! Cold heartless people like you should just sit back and keep your mouths shut!
lisa…wow…you are a complete boob…i feel sorry for the people you know and are related to…what an embarassment you are….wow….
Lisa… That is one of the most unnecessarily cruel and wretched things I have ever seen posted on any online comment section, anywhere. You should be ashamed of yourself. Lisa, you are truly a deplorable human being.
Lisa…you are a douche-bag !
I think you misread the story. They’ve offered this plan for 10 years and NO ONE has entered the shop previous to their choosing to drink and drive to sign up for a free burial. They see it as a deterrent.
The sad thing is, most drunk drivers don’t kill themselves (not that I wish their death), they kill whomever they hit.
I can only see one problem with the entire debate going on here: most drunk driving is not “planned” ahead of time, but occurs at the spur of the moment, when the person is already legally intoxicated and not in a rational enough frame of mind to recognize whether or not it is a good idea to drive.
Also, I find it odd that in all the discussions of drinking & driving that no one ever seems to address the reality of alcoholism. An alcoholic in the depths of his/her disease is not truly capable of making the rational decision to refuse to drive while drinking even when sober. An untreated alcoholic is not a sane person and is more likely to make compulsive decisions about driving while drinking than a person who is not afflicted with the disease.
No, it is not planned to drink and drive. But caution and thinking about the results of the first drink offered at the moment, which then leads to other drinks and intoxication.
Seeing that planning go “party” on NYE generally means to have a few drinks, or even some just going to dinner, that shows intent to possibly drive drunk. The drinking may not be fully planned, but the intent to is and that is what it is trying to discourage.
In fact, any amount of alcohol could be to much for someone depending their mental state or body type. One glass of wine could impair some one so much they could lose control.
Drunk drivers don’t always hit someone else those are just the times you hear about most often.
Wow… Lisa! Your going to hell. That kind of response to a simple misunderstanding puts you on the list of people this world would be better off without.
Patrick, something tells me you’ll be joining her.
You people are way more likely to be killed by someone using a cell phone than a drunk driver.
Good point.
It’s the sheer volume of cell phone users that make them more dangerous. If the number of drunks and cell phone users were equal, odds would also be the same. …but we’d all be screwed if they all drive AND used their cell phones.
A person does not plan to drink excessively,far less commit sucide by drink. However,I believe that such an offer should jolt the drinker and their family to really deeply consider the potential of death and mayhem in their action.I consider this a psychological masterpiece which should act as a deterrent.
Sorry Janie have to disagree EVERYTIME you wealk into a bar and plan to have a drink without having someone with you that is not then you PLANNED on driving drunk. It’s not spur of the moment the moment you walk into a bar and order that drink.
And while I can say that I think it is an odd thing to hear that a funeral home is offering this but it was created to make people stop and think before they go out and party tonight. The sad thing is that our city’s could do more to try and get through to people also besides just putting up road blocks. I myself have lost two family members to drunk driving and it’s not something you forget or get over. I wish people would think of that before they deside not to spend the money on a cab or a new years party bus. $10 could save lives.
WHY ONLY ON NEW YEARS EVE? WHY NOT A YEAR ROUND OFFER?
PEOPLE ARE KILLED EVERY DAY NOT JUST HOLIDAYS.
My alcoholic father, a frequest drunk driver struggling with disease, wouldn’t even drive on New Year’s Eve. He referred to it a “amateur night.” While this is slightly humorous in a demented type of way, that is why a funeral home would offer this during New Years. On this night, you have people going to parties – people who normally do not drink much or party hard feel compelled to go whoop it up.
My town – Chicago – offers penny rides from midnight to 6AM on New Years Eve. I’ve used this service once, but LOVE that my transportation system continues to offer it. If the bus is accessibloe to where you live, there’s no reason to not use the bus. The cold air can really kill a buzz, though – not sure if that’s good or bad.
I hope you realize how insanely stupid and cold hearted you sound Lisa!!!!!!
You’re not much better, Pam.
Steve….are you in love with Lisa? I don’t see the reason for your constant defending of her. She made an awful, stupid comment…why defend that? I am sure she’s loving all the attention that purposful comment gets her. I’d like to see actual words of wisdom from you.
I agree with Pam. Lisa wake up
great that all the comments are on the subject and not about someone who engaged their mouth befor their brain.
good to know all the A.D.D people have a computer.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!
these people are basically throwing it in people who willingly drive drunk faces, by making them write letters to loved ones and do all that they are basically saying look this is how stupid you are and because you are stupid enough to drive drunk and possibly get yourself killed maybe you can explain to your family your possible motives & why you stupidly decided to drink & drive when such a big risk is involved both for yourself and other INNOCENT victims.
I can’t believe I actually read this comment board. I have had 2 DWI’s and wished someone had taken me to this funeral home to make me understand what I was doing.
Hey Pam and Lisa, if you two have a cat fight, can I watch?
Drinking is learn in the family . It is a great idea !
Lisa you are the worst! Bad energy coming your way!
WOW Lisa … That was harsh … I got actually got a bit of chill when I read your comment! god I want you!
Steve why do you feel the need to keep defending Lisa…her remark was way out of line, but at the same time these other people are just lashing out on her for her insensitivity. In any case we all have a choice when it comes to drinking and driving, I have a party to attend tonight and I fully intend on drinking and I definitely do not intend on driving if I have to drive I will not go. That’s the choice I choose to make, so please stop saying that drinking and driving is not something that is planned. If you are driving you don’t drink if your are drinking you don’t drive end of story!
Perhaps Lisa and Steve are the same person. How could ANYBODY defend what she said !!! Again Lisa you are a douche-bag….no….make that a dozen douche-bags you sick biatch.
….but will the funeral home hold my beer while I sign the contract?
WOW people…I don’t know what is worse, the fact that you turned this article about a MARKETING GIMMICK into a debate about who is going to hell or the fact that I actually took the time to read this and then to post a comment. Move on.
It is hardly ever the drunk driver that dies in a crash, just their innocent victims.
It seems that NONE of you have read the complete article. NO, it is not encouraging drinking and driving. The discouragement comes with the condition of having to have your family member accompany you to the funeral home and write a letter stating why they did it. NOBODY, is ever going to do that … NOONE would let a family member do that.
*smile*
Every time, I ask myself why I even read the comments people write.
This time, in addition to the sweet irony of people saying harsh and nasty things in an attempt to chastise others for saying harsh and nasty things, I can also savor the delightful fact that some of them don’t even realize that they allowed themselves to be trolled into responding in the first place.
If I were a mean and nasty person, I wouldn’t have shared that information – I’d just keep watching the sport of it all. But I do wish to be of service, so I can rest comfortably in the knowledge that I have done something constructive to contribute to society, like the nice people at the funeral home.
Before you fire back me with your vitriol, ask yourself, “Am I being trolled?”
*smile*
Whoo Hoo…Happy New Year! Everyone can stay at my place and no one would have to drive anywhere. Yes, even Lisa would be invited.
i like you kegger!! i will be over at 8
i think what e. abbott is trying to say is that they’re may be some twisted people out there who happen to be seasoned alcoholics that drive regardless of their mental state, and who don’t have really a care about their life, so they would be encouraged to sign for this “deal” to spare their families the costs of a burial if something were to happen.
the comments i’ve read and just this article in general make me really upset. i don’t think any of it is right. it’s a mockery of people who have suffered a loss due to drunk driving.
All you are idiots
Hey Ryan…..I think by the way you’ve written your sentence,it proves you are the idiot !
Hey I got an idea,
If you’re going to drink STAY HOME!!! If you want to go out and have a good time…DON’T DRINK!!!! If you have to drink to have fun…STAY THE HELL HOME!!!
everybody get hammered…hop behind the wheel & lets set some new records tonite!!
Smiling Chris-
You’re awesome and beat me to the punch. Good stuff, sir, good stuff.
Kiki-
Rock on for staying on topic. I agree and disagree with you. Yes, some people kill themselves so their family can receive financial benefits ie life insurance, etc, so i suppose if you lacked life insurance this might be a thought going through somebody’s mind somewhere. free funeral! score! but E. abbott wasn’t going there, they just totally missed the point.
As for the funeral home marketing gimmick… clearly none of them are marketing or psychology majors. But their intent to prevent other people from having to spend their holiday season in a hospital, a police station, or a funeral home is admirable and welcomed. I just spent thanksgiving in the hospital after my brother-in-law drove drunk and crashed into a house. nobody hurt, not even him, due to such a high BAC. he overdrank because he had a DD… then the DD ditched him. His fault? yes. DD’s fault? yes. Lets all take responsibility for our own actions and call it a day. Happy holidays!
This is obviously a gimmick and the reason no one has taken them up on their offer is because they know that true drunks don’t leave the house before noon since you can’t buy the good stuff before noon anyway. This is more for the MADD’s and the AA holier than thou types and for free advertising. Party over here, party over there. Steve you are one funny dude!!!
Globaldiva. You state most drunk drivers kill others and not themselves. Unfortunately, it is untrue. Statistics actually show that drunk drives kill themselves more often, but that doesn’t make the news like the saddness of a family being killed. There just is no longer an excuse to drive drunk, we ALL know what can and does happen.
Wow! One comment I found interesting was the one to sue the family, insurance company, and the place that served them. Didn’t know that a bar was an adult baby sitting service. You only have to be 18 to be a bartender where I am from. Why would anyone expect a bartender especially that young to be an expert on when a person has had enough. Sometimes you can tell sometimes you can’t. People need to start taking responsible for their own actions and stop trying to find someone to blame. You mess up, so own up to it!
Yah good idea go sue the family and the establishment! Funny!
Too bad E. Abbott wasnt killed in the crash along with his cunt mother
WOW, WOW, WOW. If this is what America has come to I am leaving. Even though I dont agree with every thing people say on here i.e. Lisa. You have a right to your opinion and not to be burned at the stake for stating it. That is one of the great things about being an American, our freedoms. Please be more kind to ignorants in 2010. Happy NewYear !!
Chris ~
I agree with you COMPLETELY! Well put! Happy New Year!
I think that any funeral home should offer free burial for the VICTIM(S) that are killed by the drunk driver(s). The vitim(s) are not the ones who decide to get behind the wheel. I can see the point of having the potential drunk driver(s) write letters to their loved ones about their decision, but the letters won’t help as they more than likely would not be true! Hope everyone has a safe New Year’s Eve, and is mindful of other people before they decide to get behind the wheel. Every victim has at least one person who will suffer from a loss that was the fault of the drunk driver. If one goes out and drinks, have a designated driver and if one loses that person, then call a cab or walk!
What a gimic – If you’re gonna give away a free burial to drunk drivers then give it away. Playing this game of writing letters and signing a contract is a bunch of crap. Another company just wants to be in the news and probably hoping they will get some drunk driver business, but you can bet not for free.
mb:
Why would you actually give a drunk driver a free funeral? Wouldn’t you give it to someone who was a victim instead? WOW
I can understand wanting to deterr drunk driving, but this “gimmick” sounds really stupid. This plan has been around for ten years and NO ONE has ever walked in the door? Forgive me but I do not see the point if not even one person has ever convinced a loved one to “think about it and take responsibility”.
I read the story because I thought the title was a typo….
I also do not understand people who come on here JUST to make comments to other people, shutup!!! Waste of time reading your nastiness to others.
YOU ALL NEED TO GET A HANDLE OM YOURSELVES STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS.
Abbott should I asume that you would’t have sued for a settlement if the opposing driver had not been drinking? I don’t support drunk driving,I DON’T EVEN SUPPORT DRINKING,BUT a drinking driver can have a accident with out it being attributed to the alcohol. I’ve often wondered how many people would give up their settlement to get their dear departed loved ones back.
Tony, you’re right, I do have a computer. Thanks for dragging me into the discussion by mocking a legitimate medical condition.
I had a loved one die very recently from his alcoholism. He was only 25 and spent a night alone binge drinking. Thankfully he was never the type to drive after drinking. Even though a program like this wouldn’t help someone like him, I’m sure it has given a few other people a moment’s pause. Sometimes, a moment to consider the consequences is enough to change a person’s life.
Does anyone get the gist? You have to register by noon of the 31st to get covered for New Years.
If 1 person reads this offer and it makes them think to not drink or not drive then it’s worth their trouble.
I have had six drinks and in a half hour, I’m driving straight down my hallway to bed!
Just think before you walk to your car. then call someone to drive you home.
good article! hopefully that gets the message across and save a few lives. and people drop it with the insults, people are obviously gonna talk shit over the internet that they wouldnt dare say to someone else’s face. so leave it alone….
this is a great article and concept. this is a step up from the wrecked car that most high schools, including mine, put on display before the prom to discourage underage drinking and dui’s. you never know how many lives this concept has saved. it required people to consider their actions while SOBER!