Home Brew Club drunk problem

[trboyden]

The whole privilege to being able to make and taste beer hinges on the homebrewing community not abusing it - in that context, asking about DUIs not only should be intuitive, it should be a best practice by all clubs and their members that represent homebrewers in the public space/eye.

Would I refuse to be friends with someone just because they had a DUI? No, of course not, and I have friends that did get DUIs that I am good friends with. They made a responsible, personal decision to stop drinking because of it. Good on them, but that wasn't a requirement of our friendship.

But from an organizational and an educational standpoint, which a homebrew club should be about, DUIs should be extremely discouraged, and proactive efforts made to avoid them in the first place like arranging a designated driver program as a club initiative. If you are just a drinking social club, then don't use a "Homebrew" description in your club's name. It's that simple. I would imagine the AHA would have similar strong feelings about that, and would be willing to take action if clear abuses are shown. They worked hard to achieve a 50 state legal homebrewing objective. I am sure they wouldn't want to see that jeopardized.

 

[Remmy]

Kick the guy out already. IMO, it seems as if the OP doesn't have the courage to step up to the plate and have a face-to-face with said drunk.

That's why this thread was created and that is why nothing productive has been done as of yet.

 

[dkwolf]

Kick the guy out already. IMO, it seems as if the OP doesn't have the courage to step up to the plate and have a face-to-face with said drunk.

That's why this thread was created and that is why nothing productive has been done as of yet.

You're stretching. The guy found himself/his club in a situation they haven't had to deal with before, and is asking the collective knowledge base here how we would handle it.

And the thread is just over 24 hours old now. One can make the assumption that the event in question was this weekend, or maybe last weekend. If the club does not have anything concrete in their bylaws in how to deal with this, it cannot be a quick decision. If I were in the OP's shoes, I'd probably want to get the club officers together and discuss the problem and possible recourse before talking to the offending member. Make sure everyone is on the same page before you set things in motion.

But hey, you want to try and call out the OP for not having the stones to handle it before thinking everything through, that's your deal. But you're wrong. The OP is so far handling this exactly as they should. Get opinions, formulate a plan, and then act. Not the other way around.

 

[Remmy]

OK, thanks.

 

[DrunkleJon]

To start out I am most definitely not a lawyer. My opinion is that first and foremost you have to establish in your rules/bylaws what is and isnt acceptable behavior and a code of conduct (especially when representing the club/wearing the colors). You also need to spell out what the oncequences of breaking these rules is. Just like any other organization, if it isnt in writing they can fight you on it. Only then do you have the right to read him the riot act. Until then in my opinion the only thing you can do is privately approach him, talk it through and maybe give him a written warning of how his behavior is affecting the club. This way you at least have proof that you disciplined him so that if/when your bylaws are established it may be usable against him when he screws up again and gets booted.

I am not saying you all need to be too lenient, but if you do not establish expectations it is kinda hard to say "you broke such and such unwritten rule so you are out. Our society is far to litigious as it is nowadays so you really need to CYA. But once again he needs to be officially confronted but tactfully and told that irresponsible behavior that makes the club look bad is not going to be tolerated in the future.

Alcohol seems to bring and amplify out what is inside. I have found in my personal experience that if I am in a good mood and start drinking I am the nicest guy on earth when in my cups. If I am angry, i can be a jerk (so I do not drink when in a bad mood). Is this guy a little intense even when sober?


Also, you may want to consider contacting the AHA and see what they think. They are here for homebrewers afterall and know the legal aspects of it all better than Billy-Bob and Cleetus on the intranets do after all.

 

[max384]

If it were my club, I'd kick him out. Between the two DUIs, fighting, and especially the remarks about other club members' wives... That's just too much. I also personally hate angry drunks, so I'm not very apt to easily forgive that sort of behavior.

It's a headache for you, it makes the club look bad, and keeping him around a drinking environment won't help him either.

 

[Grinder12000]

This is the first time we have ever had to deal with anything like this and we are getting together but I wanted to see what others thought.

5 officers are not enough opinions for something we had not considered would happen.

BTW - our meeting is in a conference room at a bar and we all have at least one beer FROM THE BAR before the meeting. Thus, there might beer loophole with accidents, we purchased beer from the bar right

After the meeting we all go to a craft beer bar for more so what we consume is only a small amount of the total consumption and we are in the process of getting insurance.

 

[Remmy]

If it were my club, I'd kick him out. Between the two DUIs, fighting, and especially the remarks about other club members' wives... That's just too much. I also personally hate angry drunks, so I'm not very apt to easily forgive that sort of behavior.

It's a headache for you, it makes the club look bad, and keeping him around a drinking environment won't help him either.

You're stretching.

 

[TopherM]

FYI, we had a similar situation in our club that contributed to a sort of civil war in our membership over whether we were a beer brewing club or a social club. In the end, about 20 of our 70ish members left and formed their own club. A big part of that was that they felt there was too much drinking at some of our events. We've since weeded out some bad eggs, but I wish we had been more forceful when things first started getting out of control. One of the biggest peaves of the other side, and a good point in hindsight, was that the major offenders were members of the club who were not even brewers, and seemed to use their membership only for discounts and tasting events. Since we've changed this direction, our membership is back up in the 70s.

Just wanted to illustrate that this can definitely affect the future of your club if not handled promptly and firmly (but kindly!).

 

[max384]

You're stretching.

What am I stretching about? Those are my opinions on this matter.

 

[Remmy]

/sarcasm

 

[max384]

/sarcasm

Oh. Dolt. I often miss keyboard sarcasm without something obvious like an emoticon.

 

[billl]

I notice your club is listed with the american homebrewers association. They have a committee that deals with club management. You might shoot them a note and see if they have an incite or at least can point you in the direction of a club that has had to deal with this type of thing before.

http://ahaclubs.homebrewersassociation.org/

 

[Malty_Dog]

Not a club member (considering it) but don't you sign some sort of Code of Conduct or something when you join? Seems there would be an official policy/procedure to follow here.

 

[WileECoyote]

Send him to my house on a brew day, when he says something inappropriate to my wife, I will knock him into next week.

That will give you a week to figure out what to do.

Im not a club guy, for just the same reasons you are having to ask for help, seems their is always 1 guy messing it up for everyone else.

I vote BOOT, you can't allow him to hit on or making rude comments to other members wife's, keep 1 member or lose several because of him? also the legal stuff too.

I would call a emergency meeting with the board members, discuss the problem and resolve, vote on it, that way its done the right way and over with soon.

Cheers

 

[ScottG58]

There has been some concern about liability expressed I this thread. Wisconsin Statute 125.035 states "A person is immune from civil liability arising out of the act of procuring alcohol beverages for or selling, dispensing or giving away alcohol beverages to another person."

The civil liability immunity does not apply to giving alcohol to minors.

 

[1fast636]

Alright not to derail, I think you should can the dude

But on a question side I have a DUI from when I was younger for hops closest cousin no alcohol involved, I took the steps to get it removed from my record, but when I join my LHBS club should I mention it or not, sorta trying to see what you guys that got clubs or presidents feel on this situation? figured go in with the right answers then be a deer in the head lights with a do you have a DUI question. Thanks and sorry if this derails didn't mean to

 

[BeerGrylls]

Alright not to derail, I think you should can the dude

But on a question side I have a DUI from when I was younger for hops closest cousin no alcohol involved, I took the steps to get it removed from my record, but when I join my LHBS club should I mention it or not, sorta trying to see what you guys that got clubs or presidents feel on this situation? figured go in with the right answers then be a deer in the head lights with a do you have a DUI question. Thanks and sorry if this derails didn't mean to

Yes at the risk of a thread derail I would be honest about it. People will make up their own minds about it, but your ability to candidly discuss your past transgressions says a lot about you.

 

[Rhumbline]

I don't think your question is too far from the topic. Tell them exactly what you said here if the question even comes up.

As for the law, it would be a cold and threadbare comfort to know that I contributed to the needless death of another, but couldn't be sued.

If you're hosting a party and someone has had too much to drink, you find him a driver, a place to sleep it off, or a cab ride home. If it ruins a friendship, that's on him.

 

[kidmeatball]

I think an apology letter could go a long way to saving the reputation of the club. It shows you are aware of, and are actively going to prevent such activity during the next gathering of brew clubs. That being said, you've got to sit that lush down and let him know his actions were unacceptable, otherwise your apology letter is just words.

 

[PackerfaninSanDiego]

Aren't you all beating a dead horse ? It's all been said. Time to let this thread die.

 

[MindenMan]

Alright not to derail, I think you should can the dude

But on a question side I have a DUI from when I was younger for hops closest cousin no alcohol involved, I took the steps to get it removed from my record, but when I join my LHBS club should I mention it or not, sorta trying to see what you guys that got clubs or presidents feel on this situation? figured go in with the right answers then be a deer in the head lights with a do you have a DUI question. Thanks and sorry if this derails didn't mean to

Here is the "rule" on mentioning charges that have been squashed. A judge signed an order to not discuss it because it doesn't exist. Contempt of court would be talking about it. To anyone. I know from personal experience that sealed records are to stay that way. Sealed. Period.