# Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, age 82, arrested on suspicion of DUI **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 29, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322 "2022-05-29T23:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/21 "2022-05-30T09:34:58Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I realize this is a personal issue, but that’s awfully old for that kind of thing Uh… no, it isn’t “too old”. Alcoholism (or just bad drinking habits) can hit at any age. Where I work I’ve seen numerous very elderly people buying a brewery’s worth of alcohol, a few weeks ago we had to refuse to sell to an elderly gentleman who reeked of alcohol at the time, and last year my 80+ downstairs neighbor who likes her wine too much nearly set herself and her apartment on fire - if I hadn’t been home to call 911 when MY smoke detector started beeping form the smoke seeping up from _her_ apartment the whole damn building might have gone up. Plenty of very old people drink, and drink too much. It doesn’t help that as you age you don’t process alcohol as well (because nothing works as well as it used to) so an amount that just left you slightly buzzed in your youth can have you pretty messed up at 90. Add in prescription drugs that don’t play well with booze and you have some pretty messed up old farts and it has nothing to do with impending dementia (although drinking too much for too long can _cause_ certain types of dementia). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/22 "2022-05-30T13:51:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Alcoholism (or just bad drinking habits) can hit at any age. Indeed. I’ve enjoyed drinking now for close to 60 years and I’m not about to change as I grow older still. > [@Broomstick](#): > > Where I work I’ve seen numerous very elderly people buying a brewery’s worth of alcohol, Hyperbole. I’ve lent a hand at a couple of local craft breweries doing their first bottle/can runs. A “brewery’s worth of alcohol” is _thousands_ of gallons or more. Also, I’d argue that “elderly” doesn’t work well with the modifier “very”. In fact, [the term “elderly” is ageist.](https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/fulltext/2011/10000/use_of_the_term__elderly_.1.aspx) > The term _elderly_ lacks an equal and opposite term _pederly_ ; unlike geriatrics versus pediatrics that describes an area of medicine and health care. The term _elderly_ is often used to describe frail individuals; without applying the well-known and valid criteria of frailty. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/23 "2022-05-30T22:28:37Z")
I guess many people, myself included, mistakenly think of DUI as a younger adult’s problem, but you’re right, it can happen to people of any age. I had long heard about the prevalence of alcoholism (and other addictive issues) in the elderly, but didn’t really believe it until I got the job at the big hospital. (I had also been skeptical about the fact that the per capita suicide rate is highest in the senior population as well, until I started working there.) Many people do it to “cope” with declining health, loss of spouse and other family members (including children), etc. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/24 "2022-05-30T23:30:49Z")
That old bat should have retired years ago. Lifetime politicians is one of the worst things about our system ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/25 "2022-05-31T00:13:23Z")
Absolutely. What Congress needs is more Madison Cawthornes. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/26 "2022-05-31T00:15:58Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > That old bat should have retired years ago. Lifetime politicians is one of the worst things about our system - What’s that got to do with the topic? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/27 "2022-05-31T00:19:57Z")
Moderating: > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > That old bat should have retired years ago. Misogynistic cheap shot and off topic to boot. This is a formal Warning. With your history on the board, you know better. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/28 "2022-05-31T00:38:19Z")
From the story linked in the OP: > [@](#): > > Paul Pelosi, 82, was arrested at 11:44 p.m. PT and charged with driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher, according to the Napa County Criminal Justice Network’s public booking report. The mention of a specific elevated (to what degree it doesn’t say) blood alcohol level suggests this involves more than “suspicion of DUI”, whoever may be at fault for causing the accident. To blame this incident on dementia seems as much of an overreach as citing supposedly draconian drunk driving laws. Aside from factors already mentioned, elderly persons may be at risk for excess/inappropriate drinking secondary to depression and other non-dementia mental disorders. Or the most obvious explanation may be in play - having too many drinks in too short a time at a party and then driving, like someone in his 20s might do. Note that BAC varies according to weight and gender, and impairment can be affected by physical state. A man on average might reach a BAC of 0.08 by having 4-5 drinks in an hour. I am a light and infrequent drinker; I can recall a couple of times in the past where I really felt a single margarita with dinner after an exhausting day at work. My BAC at those times was almost certainly well under the legal limit, but I didn’t feel safe to drive. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/29 "2022-05-31T11:19:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Hyperbole. I’ve lent a hand at a couple of local craft breweries doing their first bottle/can runs. A “brewery’s worth of alcohol” is _thousands_ of gallons or more. I’m sorry - I didn’t realize you were unaware of the uses of hyperbole in English speech/writing. > [@kayaker](#): > > Also, I’d argue that “elderly” doesn’t work well with the modifier “very”. > > In fact, [the term “elderly” is ageist.](https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/fulltext/2011/10000/use_of_the_term__elderly_.1.aspx) Someone in their 90’s is elderly in the normally understood sense of the word. While there are some remarkably fit 90+ people (in fact, I had a lunch with one last week, and had the pleasure of knowing a woman still working as a commercial pilot/flight instructor in her 90’s which takes a certain base level of fitness many half her age would envy), the average person in that age range actually IS frail compared to adult humans in their prime. We can’t stop the nonagenarians (there, do you like that term?) from purchasing the legal limit of wine (913 ounces/27 liters), beer (864 ounces), and hard spirits (haven’t figured that one out but we have had people trip the limit on our registers) at the store where I work and requesting assistance from our cart guys in getting it into their cars to drive home, but we don’t have to like it. And yes, we have had people buy the absolute limit of wine AND beer AND liquor all at once. And when those people keep coming back and doing it again on a regular basis you start drawing conclusions that, regardless of age, there may be a drinking issue at play. We don’t sell to them when they are obviously intoxicated (that’s our policy regardless of the age of an adult customer) but outside of that our alcohol is available for them to buy. I in no way want to limit _responsible_ and _non-addicted_ use of alcohol in adults. But let’s not pretend that some people don’t have a problem when they very clearly do have a problem. One DUI does not prove a person alcoholic, of course. But far preferable would be for people to simply not drink and then drive. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Or the most obvious explanation may be in play - having too many drinks in too short a time at a party and then driving, like someone in his 20s might do. Or too many samplings at a wine tasting in Napa valley? Just a guess, I actually don’t know what Mr. Pelosi was doing, but a wine tasting is an example of a situation where someone normally responsible about alcohol use might misjudge how much they’ve had or their state of intoxication. Thank Og no one was killed or maimed but there should be consequences such that the person is more careful in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/30 "2022-05-31T11:24:43Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Or too many samplings at a wine tasting in Napa valley? Pelosi’s lawyer says he was at a dinner party at the home of friends. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/31 "2022-05-31T11:27:08Z")
Or too many drinks at a dinner party. Like I said, I don’t know what’s up with this instance, but if it was a dinner party then if he had just hung out drinking ginger ale for another couple hours then there might not have been a problem. Or called an Uber - I’m sure he could afford it. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/32 "2026-07-05T06:43:12Z")
This time at age of 86 no DUI, but instead: > Pelosi, 86, did not have any alcohol in his system, according to the statement. The sheriff’s office referred him to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a process to determine whether he may continue to drive — something that officials say is common for older drivers. > **[Paul Pelosi in hit-and-run in California, car left with major damage,...](https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-hit-run-napa-county-nancy-03222e98042228c070971a4d13f8a861)** > > Authorities in California say former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband has been involved in a hit-and-run and could face misdemeanor charges. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/33 "2026-07-05T17:24:23Z")
It’s one thing to be aging out of the driving process, and to be a little willfully blind that it’s happening. I can sympathize with that to some degree (and I’m constantly on the watch for it in myself). It is daunting to lose that kind of independence, along with all the other things that happen to you when you get old. It’s another thing to just drive away from a parked car that you have damaged and hope you can get away with it. I expect he has been and will continue to be treated very kindly and with kid gloves. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/34 "2026-07-06T03:21:13Z")
Probably time to confiscate the car keys. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/35 "2026-07-07T22:33:08Z")
Some years ago I bought my brother’s father-in-law’s last auto, a 1998 Accord with only 48,000 miles on it. It did have a number of small dents though, and when I pointed that out, bro replied, “Yeah, Bill was driving bumper cars for a while before we took the keys away.” ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/36 "2026-07-18T18:07:34Z")
> **[Paul Pelosi charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run over collision with parked...](https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-misdemeanor-car-crash-hit-run-c30c4882c9ffe7ea16385bee8966afae)** > > Paul Pelosi has been charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run after a collision earlier this month in California. Paul Pelosi’s court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 14. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322/37 "2026-07-22T11:57:11Z")
My late mother, and her brother, continued driving beyond the point that their eyesight was good enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-husband-paul-age-82-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/965322.md?page=1)