# In your opinion, is it ok for the POTUS to get drunk? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413 "2014-11-23T17:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/21 "2014-11-24T17:08:31Z")
POTUS is in a position to make life-and-death decisions, with global impact, 24/7/365. Having POTUS in an impaired mental state due to inebriation is Not A Good Thing. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/22 "2014-11-24T17:09:27Z")
No drunkenness. Not until he leaves office. No more than two drinks. Jeez, if you can’t swear off getting drunk - not just drinking - for eight years, then I submit you have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/23 "2014-11-24T18:03:26Z")
If I’m the Official Secret Service Bartender, I’m cutting him off after three – two if he’s in public with anyone other than friends/high level staffers. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/24 "2014-11-24T18:10:33Z")
I don’t understand this idea that the President needs to be ready for emergencies. He has a job, but it’s a very beurocratic and planned one. And he explicitly has a second in command for when he is indisposed. The President has never been always on call. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/25 "2014-11-24T18:21:13Z")
Here’s LBJ talking about his nuts, bunghole, and belching on the phone: Xhttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S3GT9UN7nDo Put X in front of link as I think there is some rule about making stuff NSFW one step harder - and some might consider it NSFW. I’m not sure if it would be worse if Johnson was drunk when he made this phone call - I’m going to guess he was. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/26 "2014-11-24T19:11:03Z")
If I were President, I’d _need_ a stiff drink or two every so often. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/27 "2014-11-24T19:50:50Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > If I were President, I’d _need_ a stiff drink or two every so often. Exactly. Why do you think their hair goes gray? Does this only apply to the POTUS? What about in cultures where it is a necessary social lubricant? I think some of the Northern Ireland First Ministers could stand a drink of whiskey every once in awhile. They can have Bushmills if it suits them. The Queen [visited Guinness](http://metro.co.uk/2011/05/18/queen-refuses-pint-of-guinness-in-dublin-but-prince-phillip-looks-keen-14969/) awhile back and refused a beer. Poor Philip wanted some, but probably decided it would offend the locals more if he went three sheets and asked if they [still beat their wives or something](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/09/prince-philip-funny-quotes_n_5472814.html). Maybe she didn’t want her sip going up on eBay or something (Stout & Royal Spittle!) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/28 "2014-11-24T19:58:05Z")
OK to get a little buzzed, but he has to keep his faculties. You never know when something is gonna happen. We don’t want the people in the situation room having to wait around till the President sobers up. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/29 "2014-11-24T19:59:49Z")
The president is a politician. His number one job is to bullshit people. Drink away. This “on call 24/7 life-and-death” baloney is coming from people who watched too many episodes of _24_. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis lasted 13 days. That’s plenty of time to sober up. Very few jobs require complete sobriety. Neurosurgeon, probably. Pilot/truck driver? A drink or two is fine. A CEO can probably be shitfaced 24/7 and perform just as well if not better than he does sober. And the president is basically just a glorified CEO. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/30 "2014-11-24T20:07:30Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > This “on call 24/7 life-and-death” baloney is coming from people who watched too many episodes of _24_. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis lasted 13 days. That’s plenty of time to sober up. In general yes, but in the Norwegian Rocket Incident mentioned above it went from _‘alls well’_ to _‘omfg we might be under nuclear attack’_ in the space of minutes. So as unlikely as it is, it can and does happen. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/31 "2014-11-24T20:23:09Z")
He could always invoke [Section 3 of the 25th Amendment](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution), which allows the President to temporarily transfer power to the VP due to his incapacity. So far it’s only been used for colonoscopies (seriously), but I don’t see why a President, especially in his 2nd term, couldn’t use it to tie one on. ETA: [Relevant MadTV sketch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va71a7pLvy8). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/32 "2014-11-24T20:27:58Z")
The big guy can drunk once in a while if he wants. It’s really about being unavailable in the case of a dire emergency with global implications for a few hours. There’s nothing wrong with it unless he/she crosses the line to ‘shit-faced’, in which case he should invoke the 25th beforehand and let the VP take over until he sobers up. It may not be a good idea politically to get past lightly buzzed if it can’t escape notice. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/33 "2014-11-24T20:34:34Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > The president is a politician. His number one job is to bullshit people. Drink away. > > This “on call 24/7 life-and-death” baloney is coming from people who watched too many episodes of _24_. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis lasted 13 days. That’s plenty of time to sober up. > > Very few jobs require complete sobriety. Neurosurgeon, probably. Pilot/truck driver? A drink or two is fine. A CEO can probably be shitfaced 24/7 and perform just as well if not better than he does sober. And the president is basically just a glorified CEO. I guess I don’t really give a shit. There is no reason you have to get drunk, ever. And he can just wait for eight years. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/34 "2014-11-24T20:39:09Z")
Methinks the idea that he has to be ready to respond instantly 24/7 is more than a little exaggerated. Plus he has the VP (God help us) as Designated Driver for the nuclear football. But it inspired one of the greatest comedy scenes in US film history - "Now, Dimitri, could you turn the music down just a little bit? Okay, now you are coming thru loud and clear, and fine. Now, Dimitri, one of our generals did a silly thing…" Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/35 "2014-11-24T20:40:56Z")
Eight years! Shit I can’t last 8 days. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/36 "2014-11-24T20:52:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Eight years! Shit I can’t last 8 days. Yeah, but you’re Canadian, right? You can’t be POTUS anyway. How about the Canadian Prime Minister—is it okay for him to get drunk? Or the mayor of Toronto? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/37 "2014-11-24T21:12:55Z")
Pretty sure it helped get Rob Ford elected. And we don’t really care if the PM gets drunk. In fact, I could be wrong, but I don’t think you qualify for public office in Canada unless you’re an accomplished drinker. I mean really you want an abstainer running the show? Some sissy two drink pantywaist? Not in Canada, that’s not how we roll! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/38 "2014-11-24T21:29:54Z")
Dude, just don’t fall down the White House steps while the foreign tourists are posing and I’m taking the picture (yes, that isn’t just some stereotype) and hey, prez, we all get buzzed, I can at least forgive that. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/39 "2014-11-24T21:45:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Eight years! Shit I can’t last 8 days. Without getting _drunk_? Let me reiterate: I am not a teetotaler! On the contrary, I don’t think we should have a president who doesn’t imbibe at all. Alcohol is too much a part of social functions to avoid entirely. But I also think he has absolutely no need to ever be drunk, and I’d lose a lot of my respect for him if I found out he was falling-down drunk. I guess if he’s doing it at home with nobody around it’d be better…but I’d still wish he waited until he was out of office. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413/40 "2014-11-24T21:49:01Z")
Who the fuck gets fall down drunk? Why do people on this board always bring up getting blind drunk, falling down and shitting yourself when they bring up getting drunk? The President’s a grown-ass man. Pretty sure he knows how to get drunk without turning into an asshat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-is-it-ok-for-the-potus-to-get-drunk/705413.md?page=3)