Tourney Handling the drunk guy.... (1 Viewer)

[David O]

Set the poker table antics aside for a minute. If this guy leaves your house bombed and causes a wreck, you will be getting papers from Dewey, Cheatum and Howe. Even if it wasn't your booze and you didn't serve him plan on several thousand bucks and a year plus of stress and aggravation to (hopefully) get yourself dropped from the civil suit. Not to mention all the fun that comes with discovery requests and depositions.

I realize this doesn't answer your question of how to deal with him but it's an additional consideration. Now that you have recognized it as a problem as host you are kind of obligated to address it beyond just hoping for the best.

I'm not worried so much about that as he lives on my street and walks too and fro. Everybody is pretty good about blowing it off "that's just drunk guy", but I am going to talk to him before next game.

I'm not gonna pretend to be innocent here either. I love poker and I love beer, both probably a little too much. I usually realize I should dial it back when I have to count the payout shares three times.

If you are in one of the 43 states that follow the Dram Shop Act then you might want to read up on it if you provide drinks at your house while hosting. Better to be safe than sorry.
Great point that @DJ Mack brings up.

 

[MikesDad]

I'm sure this has been said, but bottom line is to stop inviting him.
We had a similar situation a while back. Just told the guy his drinking and behavior weren't welcome in my home and that he wouldn't be invited back.. end of problem
(No, it wasn't @krafticus )

 

[WedgeRock]

then hit the crazy 1/2 game where drunk people (I don’t know) start throwing cash at me...

No stripper pole.... Whew!

 

[WedgeRock]

A spread like that and he's using dice chips. For shame...for...shame.

If only he knew someone who could show him the way and the light...

 

[krafticus]

If you are in one of the 43 states that follow the Dram Shop Act then you might want to read up on it if you provide drinks at your house while hosting. Better to be safe than sorry.
Great point that @DJ Mack brings up.

Interestingly, Maryland does not enforce this law. Good to know.

Mark

 

[David O]

Interestingly, Maryland does not enforce this law. Good to know.

Mark

Good that you checked. Although I do believe they do have Social Host Laws. See here http://injury.findlaw.com/accident-injury-law/social-host-liability.html

I know most of us do so it does not hurt to make sure we follow these laws. I hate to see anyone have to be responsible for someone else's lack of responsibility!

Bottom line is be safe!

 

[krafticus]

Good that you checked. Although I do believe they do have Social Host Laws. See here http://injury.findlaw.com/accident-injury-law/social-host-liability.html

I know most of us do so it does not hurt to make sure we follow these laws. I hate to see anyone have to be responsible for someone else's lack of responsibility!

Bottom line is be safe!

Reading up on these, it seems most (if not all) of the Maryland laws apply to minors, and the providing of alcohol to minors. I will read up some more, though.

 

[longflop]

Heavy Seas.. good stuff. Are you in MD?

I am, up in Timonium.

 

[krafticus]

I am, up in Timonium.

If you ever want to come down to HoCo for a game, let me know. @PhilLaFond lives up your way too. I won't get too hammered, I promise !!!

 

[Ghoti]

For the sake of fairness, I'm normally the drunkest guy at the games I host, and the most obnoxious was always sober (he's no longer invited).

 

[Wils]

To answer the OP, I have rules which by attending, everyone is agreeing to. You're not in a fit state to play, goodbye buy-in, and you're out. Annoying neighbors, goodbye buy in, and you're out. Repeatedly hold up play, goodbye buy-in and you're out.

Etc etc

Every player had taken the piss out of me for coming up with these rules, but no one has ignored them so far... And if people don't want to come because of the "bullshit rules" well... No loss.

 

[Lil Tuna]

Yes...and it has gotten pretty bad in the past.

Just to put this into context, I host nearly every Friday, and we are as much of a social club as we are a poker club. I suspect @Lil Tuna , who recently started playing with us can attest to that.

We are a very close neighborhood with a number of retired Marines and Sailors; so we can drink And then there's that one guy. Drunk, not paying attention, slow to deal and act. And then he gets pissed off when people tell him that the action is on him. He and I actually got into a fight about 5 years ago and I banned him. I don't advise it, but that pretty much set the tone for zero A-hole tollerance.

Because of the neighborhood closeness, our situation is a bit unique. We go to Vegas together, frequent BBQs in the neighborhood, etc. So I still saw him regularly at other functions.

A couple years later he came groveling back and, we let him back in to the Social Club. He has been pretty good up until a couple weeks ago. He and I had a side bar, with him knowing that next time is a lifetime ban. Seemed to wotk, but we will see.

Good luck!!

Years ago I had to ban my own uncle because of his out of control drinking and screwing up my game.
I love to hang out, talking shit and drink a few beers but when it gets to the point of becoming someone’s baby sitter, it really sucks.
Love hanging with the Seeking Alpha Social Club, some of the most fun I have playing cards.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Half of the group I play with are heavy social drinkers so it always part of any poker game.

It is not unusual for people to sleep over at some of the games from being too drunk.

Only a few have taken it too far, one even having to have the police called after he sucker punched another player. He has since been banned from that hosts home for life.

I have him on probation at my house with the strict unstanding that he is not allowed to drink. He has played twice since that incident and was on his best behavior.

He has depression issues and the players in our group are about the only friends he has. Out right banning him could send him over the edge. While I won’t tolerate him drinking at my game I want to give him a chance to redeem himself and still hang out with his friends.

If you like the person and want him at your game explain that he is drinking too much and that if he continues to get wasted drunk you will ask him to leave.

 

[Old State]

Myself and 3 friends used to hold 7-8 35-40 person tourneys a year for about seven years back in the early 2000's. We used Evite and specifically mentioned unruly behavior in the invitation. We only ever kicked out one guy....my friends brother in law who we later heard was banned from an AC casino!

He got loud and stupid once and got a warning. Second time we kicked him out before the tourney was half over. Never invited again.

 

[zbyrook]

Talk to the player first (while he's sober) and let him know that the behavior is not acceptable. If he's hostile or agrees but keeps doing it you should make the tough call. IMO being fun while sober does not excuse bad behavior while drunk.