This film was shot by the Kansas City Police Department as part of their training program.
The term "drunk" typically refers to a state of intoxication caused by consuming alcohol. When someone is drunk, their physical and mental faculties are significantly impaired due to the effects of alcohol on their system.
Here is another of my alcohol/police posts from that time -
• Film Uses Real Drunks ...
In the 1970s, attitudes towards public drunkenness and alcoholism were considerably different from today's understanding and approach. If someone was found to be publicly drunk during this era, their treatment by the police and the broader societal response would largely depend on the local laws and societal norms of the specific region or country.
Impaired Coordination and Motor Skills: Difficulty walking, poor balance, and clumsiness are common signs.
Slurred Speech: Difficulty speaking clearly and coherently.
Reduced Inhibitions: Engaging in behaviors that one might usually avoid when sober, often due to lowered social and personal inhibitions.
Impaired Judgment: Making poor decisions without considering the consequences, which can lead to risky behavior.
Altered Emotional State: Experiencing heightened emotions or mood swings, ranging from euphoria to aggression or sadness.
Being drunk can vary in intensity, from mild impairment to severe intoxication, where a person may experience blackouts or loss of consciousness. The legal definition often involves a specific blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which varies by jurisdiction but typically ranges around 0.08% to 0.10% BAC, at which a person is considered legally impaired to drive.
Public Drunkenness was generally treated as a criminal offense. Many states and cities had laws against "public intoxication" or "drunkenness." Being caught in a public place while visibly intoxicated could lead to arrest and fines, and sometimes even jail time.
Alcoholism was not widely recognized as a medical condition until later. It was often seen as a moral failing or a lack of willpower. Treatment options were limited, and social support systems like Alcoholics Anonymous were not as widespread or as accepted as they are now.
If you were publicly drunk in the 1970s, you were likely to face legal consequences, and the understanding and support for alcoholism as a health condition were much less developed than they are today.