A sobering stand
A Times EditorialPublished February 22, 2007
So what's going on besides the war debate in Congress and cable television's obsession with the Anna Nicole Smith story? Maybe you missed the news item about how New Mexico is using talking urinals as a weapon in its crackdown on drunken drivers. The state recently paid $21 each for about 500 talking urinal-deodorizer cakes and has put them in men's rooms in bars and restaurants.
This is how the Associated Press describes what happens: "When a man steps up, the motion-sensitive plastic device says, in a woman's voice that is flirty, then stern: "Hey, big guy. Having a few drinks? Think you had one too many? Then it's time to call a cab or call a sober friend for a ride home. Remember, your future is in your hand."
It has to be a sobering experience, standing there hearing voices. We suppose one sure way to tell if a man has had too much to drink is if he tries try to carry on a conversation with the urinal.