History Main / DesignatedDriver

It should not be confused with either DesignatedHero or DesignatedVillain, which deals with something else entirely. If the designated driver's companions are doing things rather more dangerous than drinking, that's a GetawayDriver.

Examples:

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* From ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'' we get [[WrenchWench Tuuri]] [[TheEngineer Hotakainen]]. However, the trope is very subverted: she's appointed the Designated Driver for the team as... the rest of the RagtagBunchOfMisfits [[AreYouSureYouCanDriveThisThing can't actually drive]] [[DrivesLikeCrazy to save their lives]], rather than have any plans to get too drunk to. She's the only one who knows how to work gears and all the other steps you need to do, even though she's not exactly had a lot of practice actually being behind the wheel, either.

** In the episode "New York City vs. Homer Simpson", Moe's Tavern ends up having to institute a new designated drivers policy after his patrons' drunken antics caused a lot of car accidents. Because of this, Moe supplies each patron with a pickled egg from his jar, and the one who got the black pickled egg has to be the designated driver for the night. Barney ended up getting said black egg, thus forcing the town drunk to go sober for the night, causing hilarity to ensue when his attempts to avoid drinking become even more difficult when Duffman and his cheerleading squad arrive at Moe's Tavern to hold a party in Barney's honor after winning a contest.

** In the episode "New York City vs. Homer Simpson", Moe's Tavern ends up having to institute a new designated drivers policy after his patron's drunken antics caused a lot of car accidents. Because of this, Moe supplies each patron with a pickled egg from his jar, and the one who got the black pickled egg has to be the designated driver for the night. Barney ended up getting said black egg, thus forcing the Town Drunk to go sober for the night, causing hilarity to ensue when his attempts to avoid drinking become even more difficult when Duffman and his cheerleading squad arrive at Moe's Tavern to hold a party in Barney's honor after winning a contest.

* Subverted in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd''. When the five men discover the AlianInvasion in their hometown during the pub crawl, they discuss whether they should head back to London and let Andy drive since he is [[TheTeetotal teetotal]]. Cue to Andy [[INeedAFreakingDrink drinking five shots in a row]] as a reaction of what they've just seen.

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* One Crestor/JeffFoxworthy bit is about things you can do if you're a designated driver. For example, drop everyone off at the wrong house. Preferably in their boss' front yard.

It should not be confused with either DesignatedHero or DesignatedVillain, which deals with something else entirely.

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* Inverted on the ''{{Monk}}'' episode ''Mr. Monk Is the Best Man''. Because Stottlemeyer let Monk plan his bachelor's party, Monk supplied 12-ounce bottles of beer to each of the 12 members, resulting in 144 ounces total. In Stottlemeyer's words, that meant they only had enough to make them just slightly sleepy (i.e.,, not drunk enough to require designated driving), or to give it all to one of the members to make him very polluted and make him the Designated Drunk. The majority of the partygoers ultimately go with the latter decision, and Randy Disher volunteers to become the "designated drunk".
* Mentioned on ''LittleMosqueOnThePrairie'', where the local Muslim population suddenly becomes incredibly popular at around Holiday season and are invited to all the parties, because the Christians need sober people to drive them home.

* From ''StandStillStaySilent'' we get [[WrenchWench Tuuri]] [[TheEngineer Hotakainen]]. However, the trope is very subverted: she's appointed the Designated Driver for the team as... the rest of the RagtagBunchOfMisfits [[AreYouSureYouCanDriveThisThing can't actually drive]] [[DrivesLikeCrazy to save their lives]], rather than have any plans to get too drunk to. She's the only one who knows how to work gears and all the other steps you need to do, even though she's not exactly had a lot of practice actually being behind the wheel, either.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "New York City vs. Homer Simpson", Moe's Tavern ends up having to institute a new designated drivers policy after his patron's drunken antics caused a lot of car accidents. Because of this, Moe supplies each patron with a pickled egg from his jar, and the one who got the black pickled egg has to be the designated driver for the night. Barney ended up getting said black egg, thus forcing the Town Drunk to go sober for the night, causing hilarity to ensue when his attempts to avoid drinking become even more difficult when Duffman and his cheerleading squad arrive at Moe's Tavern to hold a party in Barney's honor after winning a contest.

* In ''TheSimpsons'' episode "New York City vs. Homer Simpson", Moe's Tavern ends up having to institute a new designated drivers policy after his patron's drunken antics caused a lot of car accidents. Because of this, Moe supplies each patron with a pickled egg from his jar, and the one who got the black pickled egg has to be the designated driver for the night. Barney ended up getting said black egg, thus forcing the Town Drunk to go sober for the night, causing hilarity to ensue when his attempts to avoid drinking become even more difficult when Duffman and his cheerleading squad arrive at Moe's Tavern to hold a party in Barney's honor after winning a contest.

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* Very much TruthInTelevision. In Finland it is customary that the designated driver will drink only coffee, energy drinks or soft drinks, and the rest of the party will buy his or her drinks.
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* From ''StandStillStaySilent'' we get [[WrenchWench Tuuri]] [[TheEngineer Hotakainen]]. However, the trope is very subverted: she's appointed the Designated Driver for the team as... the rest of the RagtagBunchOfMisfits [[AreYouSureYouCanDriveThisThing can't actually drive]] [[DrivesLikeCrazy to save their lives]], rather than have any plans to get too drunk to. She's the only one who knows how to work gears, even if she's not had a lot of practice actually driving, either.

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* Identifying yourself as the Designated Driver at [[ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable Hawg Wallers]] means free soda for the night.

[[quoteright:350:[[CollegeHumor http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/drank_IN_this_ccup_6258.png]]]]

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[[caption-width-right:Both sides of the spectrum.]]