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Apparently, everyone gets into the Christmas spirit in different ways. Brandon Touchet must of had one too many drinks after a long day at Santa’s workshop and was pulled over at 3 am on Sunday by officers with Louisiana’s Lafayette Parish. Touchet, who is 34 years old, was wearing what appeared to be a ‘Buddy the Elf’ costume.
When officers pulled Touchet over he was going 60 mph in a 40 mph zone. When he exited the vehicle, his speech was incoherent, he couldn’t keep his balance and his eyes were bloodshot. He was administered a Breathalyzer test and blew a .124, stated police officers. In his mugshot picture above, he is wearing a lime green elf costume with a fuzzy white collar; it is exactly like the outfit that Will Ferrell wore in the 2003 movie Elf. His blood alcohol level was far beyond the legal limit, which is .08. He was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and speeding. He was later released on a $1,500 bond.
It turns out that Touchet isn’t the only one acting out near Christmas; on Saturday night there was also a crowd of rowdy Santa’s caught brawling on the streets of New York City. In my opinion, I think all of this has a lot to do with this time of the year and the feelings it brings up for people. Some people choose to drink and act out in various ways while others choose to stay sober and surround themselves with other people who are doing the same. People also get very stressed out and going wild and crazy is a release for them.
There are many different reasons why people act out during the holidays but there are also many ways to avoid having your name in a news article for being dressed as an elf and driving drunk. There are usually signs when you are stressed out or overwhelmed, take a break when you see them! To stay stress-free you need to get plenty of sleep, eat well, acknowledge your feelings about the holidays and stop imagining the holiday season as being ‘perfect’. I think another big reason people get overwhelmed is because we all have this ideal of how Christmas and the holidays ‘should be’ and then it makes the reality of the situation harder to deal with.
If you’re in recovery this holiday season, it is important to remember that just because you’re sober, the holidays can still be stressful and your family might still not get along. Don’t force yourself to feel happy, or buy those expensive gifts for your family or friends if you don’t have the money for it. Embrace your feelings about the holidays with your supports and friends and keep checking in with yourself. Remember that being sober during the holidays is a gift to your loved ones and to yourself, too! Stay close to your supports and keep going to meetings and doing what you have to do to stay sober and you will get through the holiday season just fine! If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll free 1-800-951-6135.
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