Forum: Author Hangout

Avoid Going Out on "Amateur Night" aka New Years Eve!

Paladin_HGWT 🚫

Many LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) and other First Responders advise not going out on "Amateur Night" aka New Years Eve!

If you feel you must go out, take a taxi, town car, Uber, etc.

The so called "professional" drinkers, who consume alcohol every Friday and Saturday, if not more often, are dangerous enough. Even if they can "maintain" they still have impaired reflexes and decision making! Ordinary folks who primarily get inebriated at weddings, holidays, and in particular New Years Eve, have caused many LEOs and EMTs, to refer to December 31st as "Amateur Night" for decades.

Of course, Superbowl Sunday, and some other events can be just as bad.

Even if you are walking, or riding in a cab/Uber, you are in danger. Also, drunks starting fights can be a hazard too.

This year, as I have for most years, I am staying home! In my 20's and 30's I would attend an annual party where we would all sleep over, and have a late brunch together in the morning! (Except for the year many of us went Goose Hunting! Several of the guys were in Tuxedoes and Hip-Waders! Several of the Ladies joined us too! More than twenty of us, and we only got three or four geese; but we Entertained our fellow hunters!)

Replies: The Outsider Rodeodoc jimq2 irvmull

The Outsider 🚫

@Paladin_HGWT

I was lucky enough to be working (in EMS) on New Year's Eve and Halloween or recovering from working before those nights, so I rarely participated.

Of course, my colleagues and I did place bets on what people's blood alcohol levels were gonna be when we brought them to the ER, so I'm sure to be on the Highway to Hell...

Rodeodoc 🚫

@Paladin_HGWT

Excellent advice. Mrs. R and I haven't seen the New Year in for probably 15 years. It seems to have arrived without our participation when we wake up New Years Day. Last night a neighbour set off his fireworks at 10 PM and that was our cue to tuck in. Best wishes to all in 2025.

jimq2 🚫

@Paladin_HGWT

At my age, we stay in to comfort the Corgi. The dog spent the entire time either between my feet, or my wife's.

Even though fireworks that explode or shoot in the air are illegal in AZ, It sounded like a war zone all last night. I think the last one in my neighborhood went off about 4am. So I didn't get much sleep. The regulation about exploding and flying fireworks is for fire safety. The Phoenix metro area hasn't had rain since mid August, so everything is dry. Haven't heard how many fires there were last night. Last year there were several Palm trees set on fire by fireworks, not to mention many grass fires. One year someone's big sky rocket fell over after being lit, shot into their garage and went off right next to the gas can for the lawnmower. Major damage to the house. I remember a bottle rocket totaling a moving car when it went in the window and exploded in the driver's lap.

Replies: akarge Dominions Son

akarge 🚫

@jimq2

I remember a bottle rocket totaling a moving car when it went in the window and exploded in the driver's lap.

That reminded me of when I was stationed (US Army) in Frankfurt Germany. 1980. The German populace were polite, well-behaved, and cheerful. On New Years Eve, they unleashed sky rocket warfare upon the buildings across the road and any cars driving down the street.

They aimed down from three and four story buildings, trying to hit the cars. Bonus points if you could put your missile inside a car, or into someone's apartment.

Replies: mauidreamer

mauidreamer 🚫

@akarge

Stationed in Naples, IT in later '80's. E's provided qtrs, but O's got housing allowance for on-the-economy apartments .. with the locals as neighbors. in addition to the New Year's Eve bldg vs bldg, and bldg vs passing traffic conflicts, we were also warned of the "out with the old" appliances and/or furniture on NYE ... so pedestrian traffic was also not advised ...

Dominions Son 🚫

@jimq2

Even though fireworks that explode or shoot in the air are illegal in AZ, It sounded like a war zone all last night.

At least it didn't go all night by me.

Wisconsin where I live is an odd situation.It's legal (at least in some areas) to sell fireworks, but it's illegal to use most of it.

In my neighborhood, they started at 11:30 and fortunately stopped around 1am.

No pets, but I have enough sleep issues without the "war zone."

Replies: jimq2

jimq2 🚫

@Dominions Son

I had a tax client that used to get a room in one of the downtown high rise hotels for the Fourth of July, & New Years Eve. He was a Veteran of the Sandbox, and suffered greatly from PTSD. One or two was fine, but the constant booms from dusk until 2 or 3am was too much. Particularly as the attacks over there would frequently start at dusk and continue into the night. The VA reimbursed part of it as a medical expense. It was easier than needing him to come into the VA hospital for a week or two afterwards.

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@jimq2

but the constant booms from dusk until 2 or 3am was too much.

Don't get me wrong. The 4th of July it will not only go all night, it can go every night from the 3rd to the following Sunday.

I was pleasantly surprised that they stopped at 1AM last night.

irvmull 🚫

@Paladin_HGWT

Once again, I went to sleep before midnight, and woke up on Jan 1, and - to my great disappointment - it was not Jan 1, 1960.

Seems to happen like that every year, lately.

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Forum: Author Hangout

Avoid Going Out on "Amateur Night" aka New Years Eve!

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