This sends a pretty powerful message to anyone thinking about drinking and driving: If they can bust Pete Coors, they can get you too.
When the brewery bigshot stepped into his car on May 28th, he'd apparently had a bit too much to drink. He'd been to a wedding. Everybody drinks at weddings, right? If you're known for your beer, you just have to join in that toast, right? Well, you might also think that a man who ran for the Senate should be able to find a ride home. Apparently not.
When he reached his neighborhood, Coors blew a stop sign. (He must have thought he was home free, or something.) He was pulled over in his own driveway, and given a breathalyzer test. It didn't look good for Mr. Coors:
In one breath test, he registered a blood alcohol level of 0.073 percent. In a second, 20 minutes later, he registered 0.088. In Colorado a blood alcohol count of 0.05 results in a driving while impaired charge, while a count of 0.08 results in driving under the influence.Legal analyst Scott Robinson said drivers with no previous alcohol convictions are usually held to have driven while impaired, rather than the more serious driving while under the influence. A DWI finding can result in a loss of driving privileges for 90 days; DUI can result in suspension for a year. (The Denver Post)
And so, this week, they decided to take away his license.
"I made a mistake. I should have planned ahead for a ride," Coors said in a statement. "For years, I've advocated the responsible use of our company's products."
Uh huh. Call me a cynic, but something tells me we aren't likely to see Mr. Coors arranging carpools or riding the light rail any time soon.
Image notes: Pete's picture via the Denver Post; Wedding picture via a Coors Light commercial, available on the Coors Light website (Ironic, no?)
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