[DC 86]

Driving under the influence of pain Ned's is no less dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol.  I don't view the fact that it was not alcohol to be a mitigating fact.

BC

100% agree that the dangers are the same, but I don't think the two scenarios are identical. If you are going out knowing that you will be consuming alcohol and that it's possible that you will reach the point of inebriation, then it's incumbent on you to make arrangements in advance (designated driver or leaving your car at home and using Uber). But it's reasonable to assume that if you are only taking medication as prescribed that you don't contemplate becoming disoriented, at which point you make poor decisions that you aren't fully aware of.

Tiger will be justifiably penalized for his actions, but I am more sympathetic to a situation where he suffered genuinely unexpected consequences as opposed to a scenario where a reasonable person should be highly aware of what could transpire. If you are taking medication as indicated you don't assume that your judgment will become impaired, whereas if you are out drinking or using recreational drugs it's a certainty to at least some degree.

[DC 86]

Driving under the influence of pain Ned's is no less dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol.  I don't view the fact that it was not alcohol to be a mitigating fact.

BC

100% agree that the dangers are the same, but I don't think the two scenarios are identical. If you are going out knowing that you will be consuming alcohol and that it's possible that you will reach the point of inebriation, then it's incumbent on you to make arrangements in advance (designated driver or leaving your car at home and using Uber). But it's reasonable to assume that if you are only taking medication as prescribed that you don't contemplate becoming disoriented, at which point you make poor decisions that you aren't fully aware of.

Tiger will be justifiably penalized for his actions, but I am more sympathetic to a situation where he suffered genuinely unexpected consequences as opposed to a scenario where a reasonable person should be highly aware of what could transpire. If you are taking medication as indicated you don't assume that your judgment will become impaired, whereas if you are out drinking or using recreational drugs it's a certainty to at least some degree.