The other night and friend and I went to dinner. We both carry 100% of the time. We were sitting there talking and he ordered a Crown and Coke before dinner. He had only one, and drank water with the rest of the meal. We ate our meal, payed the bill, and left. I didn’t say anything about it, but it bugged me a little. I knew he was wearing a gun, and yet he had had a drink with dinner. This has raised a moral problem for me. In Texas there is no law against carry a gun in an establishment that serves alcohol, only if that establishment derives less than 51% of it’s income from the sale of alcohol. There is also no real law against drinking while carrying a gun, but common sense dictates that you shouldn’t. Should one drink be a problem? He was by no means drunk, but if he had had to use that gun would they of just killed him in court? Should you become defenseless if you only want to have one drink with dinner? Is really the best course of action to just not drink if you carry a gun? I am not saying yes or no one way or the other. I am simply asking yalls opinion on the matter. I am only talking about a drink here and there, or one beer here and there, I am not talking about getting sloshed at the bar while wearing a gun. We all have one or two drinks and drive home, is that any less irresponsible than wearing a gun while doing the same thing? What are your thoughts?
If it really bothers you I would simply approach him and let him know that you are looking out for his best interest and that you don’t think it is a good idea for him to drink and carry (especially if he is with you). Remind him that in this day and age the good guys are made out to be bad guys and they get screwed. If he has any common sense he will see where you are coming from.
Hmmm…interesting dilemma.
While I certianly think that being impaired and carrying a weapon is a very very bad idea, I would think that drinking one drink while at dinner is not a big deal.
I am very sure he would be well below the legal driving limit (I don’t know what it is in TX, .08 BAC?) and his judgment would not be impaired. I can understand the need to CYA in the event of using said weapon but I just don’t think one drink with dinner is going to have any real effect on the ruling of a legitimate shooting. I don’t know.
I can certianly see the other side of the coin. I am very sure any responding police would order a breathalyzer test, and blowing any numbers may look bad. I could see some Sotomayor’esque prosecuting attorney who is hell bent one making someone an example using that in court.
Probably not something I am going to concern myself with to the point that I won’t enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.
Seriously? One drink? No offense, but you are an annoying busy body in my opinion.
M_P
I carry often, and often carry to dinner and/or to the bar. In PA there is no law against CC in a bar. I do not drink to get drunk, but I can often eat dinner and have 2-4 beers while carrying, my wife and I could go to the bar at the end of the street and spend a few hours and I may drink 2-4 beers and maybe a couple Jeager bombs as well.
I never thought I needed to shoot anyone because I had a couple beers 
If there is no law against it, why does it bother you, and why do you feel it’s your business or in your place to be the guiding light in this free mans life? (rhetorical question, no need to reply).
Get over it.
PS - As your comment about “if he needed to use it…”, well, if I face A) getting killed by some nut job or B) defending myself and my actions in killing the nut job trying to kill me and/or other patrons of the establishment after I had consumed 3 beers… guess what I will pick?
Make your own choices and deal with your own repercussions.
There is too much room for getting screwed by the legal system. Depending on your area you may be a-okay legally and take it up the chute in a civil suit.
Even if you would win this type of suit, you will have a boat load of money tied up in fees.
But the entire point in CC is to prevent your own death from a threat. In the actual instance that you ever pulled a concealed weapon for protection… do you think the option of
A) death
over
B) a boat load of money tied up in fees is something that will take more than 1.5 milliseconds to decide?
When faced with being dead as an option, I do not mind whatever the cost is of being and remaining alive is.
Meh. MYOB, as long as he’s not fucked up drunk. It’s legal for people to open carry in bars in Indiana, and we don’t have a rash of drunken shootings.
Price you pay for freedom, dude.
its not guns that shoot people, its the people…I could get totally trash and once I handle a weapon, im %100 devoted to my personal and everybody else safety around me…
Carrying a firearm while consuming alcohol, regardless of intent, is stupid and immature. I will say that to anyone’s face. Give me any good reason to mix lawful concealed carry with alcohol consumption. I can list a dozen reasons not to.
It is wrong.
It is stupid.
It is unnecessary.
If you have made mistakes in the past, fine, but have the moral courage to admit that it was not a good thing to do and move on.
If you want a drink, fine, but take the gun off first.
If he’s your friend, you should be able to bring it up and talk it out… like friends.
The wife and I go out from time to time, no gun comes with us because of state laws, but that doesn’t mean I’m unarmed, I just don’t have a gun.
At home if we’re drinking, it stays in the holster either on me or on the coffee table in the holster. Handling a gun while drinking probably isn’t real smart, but if it’s just sitting on your hip (or his in your case), bid deal. The only time I would see a problem is if he turns into Johnny Bigmouth if he drinks.
Hell, I worry more about drinking and posting on forums than spontaniously wanting to draw my gun. 
Yup, I decided to get a CHL.
I have also decided not to drink in a situation that a lawyer can spin into making me pay some POS for the rest of my life. It is not a situation that you you paint. It is me deciding that I want to minimize the chances of my actions to remain alive leaving me as a wage slave to a court judgement.
Gun = no booze. Tis that simple.
Get knocked around in the legal system or even a big bureacracy once or twice and you realize that missing a great beer with dinner is not that large of a price to pay to avoid going through that shit again.
I don’t see an issue with it.
Each individual needs to know what he’s capable of handling. IMO, it’s more acceptable to keep your gun on you and have a drink or two with dinner than it is to leave a gun in a car to be stolen by some piece of shit criminal.
I am just asking your opinion on the subject, I did not say that I had a significant problem with the man drinking while carrying. I just said that it could pose some problems.
I typically don’t carry a firearm if going out for the evening and having drinks… However, in Nevada DWI is .08 while you can open or concealed carry with a BAC up to .10 and not be above the legal limit.
I completely respect your opinion and I will politely ignor it.
To choose to not be armed is wrong, stupid, and unnecessary.
Beer or not, there are mental midgets out there that at any moment could walk into your local bar or resturaunt (or any other place at any time of day or night) and decide to start shooting random sheep.
You honestly feel that your more resistant to maniac/insane killers because your in a bar and guns are not a wise choice there? Have at it pal…
I’ll be the guy shooting back and paying the legal fees or be found dead after trying to stop him.
You’ll be the dead guy that threw your wine glass at the maniac to try and stop him or you may be found cowering under a table and wishing you had your pistol.
Honestly, I take no personal interest in what you or anyone here does… it just amazes me that some folks put these absurd rules in place… as if the bad guys will heed the rules and allow you safe passage to certain places…just because.
For the average sized male a single drink is unlikely to measurably impair his judgment.
That being said:
That’s some sage advice. We don’t live in an ideal world. Generally I would advise people to abstain from drinking while they are armed.
My limit while carrying is one wine or beer and only with a meal and a glass of water . That’s just me.
YMMV.
IMO , the entire " legal in an eating establishment but not in the bar '" thing is a real PITA. Completely useless.
wholly fuckin shit… mind your own damn business- one fuckin drink? are you kidding? even if it was ten drinks- mind your own business. you must be a new CCW guy.
agreed…I don’t have a problem with a drink now and then but please don’t have your gun with you when you do it…
as a medical professional I see too many people who don’t realize what one drink will do when mixed with their blood pressure meds, nerve pills etc and the thought of them having a weapon is scary even though what they are using is not illegal.