AOR Covers You Even if You Were Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs
Imagine you are enjoying a night out with friends or celebrating a milestone, or perhaps you are relaxing after a long week. You have had a drink or two, and the last thing on your mind is danger. Suddenly, an emergency arises where you must act quickly to protect yourself or someone else. Whether you use pepper spray, a firearm, or simply your hands, your instincts kick in.
After defending yourself, you feel confident that you did the right thing. However, law enforcement views the situation differently. Instead of being treated as a victim, you find yourself arrested and charged with aggravated assault. You remain calm, knowing that you have been paying into a self-defense program for months. You expect legal assistance to be on your case right away. Unfortunately, your self-defense insurance claim is denied because you had alcohol in your system at the time of the incident. It seems absurd that self-defense incidents are expected to only happen to completely sober individuals.
The reality is that self-defense incidents rarely occur in safe, controlled environments. Statistics show that 62.9% of violence-related injuries involve alcohol use by the victim, perpetrator, or both (Cherpitel et al., 2012). This means self-defense situations can arise during dinners, parties, cookouts, and nights out where alcohol is often present. Many people do not realize that most traditional self-defense insurance programs deny coverage if you are impaired by alcohol or drugs (regardless of legality) when the incident occurs.
At The Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm (AFF), we recognize that self-defense incidents do not always unfold under ideal conditions. That is why our Attorneys On Retainer Program (AOR) will still cover you, even if you had alcohol or drugs in your system during the altercation. Unlike traditional insurance, AOR is backed by a law firm that will represent you if you act in self-defense, regardless of impairment.
What It Means To Be Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol
Being impaired by alcohol or drugs, in a legal context, refers to any situation where a person consumes alcohol, prescription medications, or recreational drugs that can impact their judgment, coordination, or reaction time. In many traditional self-defense insurance programs, impairment is viewed as a legal fault rather than a common occurrence. Consequently, these programs often deny coverage if you were under the influence during a self-defense incident, even if your actions were reasonable and necessary.
The Problem With Many Traditional Self-Defense Programs
Many self-defense programs backed by traditional insurance policies include strict exclusions related to alcohol or drug use. These policies typically deny coverage for any incident that occurs while the member is impaired or under the influence of a substance.
However, being under the influence does not automatically mean someone acted irresponsibly, unlawfully, or without justification. Many self-defense incidents happen in social settings where individuals have consumed alcohol legally and responsibly, without reaching the level of impairment that leads to negligence or recklessness. Despite this, traditional self-defense insurance programs often consider any presence of alcohol or drugs a disqualifier for coverage.
It feels as though your right to defend yourself vanishes the moment you have a glass of wine or take medication for anxiety. These strict exclusions overlook the complex and unpredictable nature of real-world threats, leaving you vulnerable when you need protection the most.
Why This Matters
Self-defense incidents can happen at any moment, regardless of the setting. They might occur during a backyard barbecue with family and friends, in your home while enjoying a quiet evening with a glass of wine, or at social events like restaurants or wedding receptions.
If you find yourself in a position where you need to defend yourself, be aware that alcohol or legally prescribed medication can be used against you by prosecutors who may question your judgment – even if your actions were lawful and justified.
Statistics show that a significant percentage of violent crimes involve alcohol. Some studies estimate that alcohol plays a role in nearly 40% of violent offenses (NCADD, 2025) and up to 47% of homicides (Kuhns et al., 2014). These figures can shape public perception and contribute to the incorrect belief that there is a causal relationship between alcohol and violence. Consequently, if you lawfully defend yourself after consuming alcohol, prosecutors may perceive your actions as reckless, potentially influencing their decision to file charges against you.
In other words, the mere presence of alcohol can cast doubt on your case, making a justified act of self-defense appear suspicious or aggressive. This is why it is essential to have a defense team that knows how to challenge these assumptions from the outset. At AOR, we believe that having a drink does not equate to recklessness. Consuming alcohol or other substances does not make you a criminal, and it certainly should not lead to jail time if you are reasonably defending yourself or others.
The AOR Approach
At AOR, we understand that people are human. They attend dinner parties, take medication, and drink socially and responsibly. Our role is not to deny coverage simply because a member enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine; instead, we aim to represent you in the event you are involved in a self-defense incident.
That is why AOR is founded on a clear and unwavering principle: if you acted in self-defense and your case meets our three established criteria, we will represent you:
- You are charged (or are reasonably concerned about being charged) with a crime (felony or misdemeanor).
- You can reasonably and in good faith assert that you acted in self-defense or defense of others.
- The charges arise out of conduct that occurred entirely after you became a member of AOR.
We are supported by a law firm rather than a traditional insurance company. Our approach does not rely on prewritten exclusions, fine print, or insurance adjusters to determine your right to legal protection. Our legal team evaluates your actions, not your level of impairment. What matters to us is whether you reasonably used force in self-defense, not whether you were sober.
We established our own Risk Retention Group (RRG) to operate independently of traditional insurance regulations. This allows us to set our own standards for representation. Our team is made up of experienced criminal defense attorneys who are dedicated to defending freedom, rather than questioning how it was protected.
Read our full “We Cover You Even If…” series to see how far that commitment goes.
Responsible Carry and Real-World Defense
Some may ask, “Isn’t it irresponsible to carry a firearm while drinking?” At AOR, we strongly encourage all members to practice safe and responsible carrying habits, including avoiding the combination of alcohol and firearms whenever possible. However, if you find yourself needing to defend yourself while under the influence of alcohol or a legal substance, we will provide you with representation. Our members rely on us for a vigorous defense when their lives, freedom, and future are at stake, and that is exactly what we are here to do.
Conclusion
When you become an AOR member, you are not signing up for a list of conditions or exclusions. You are hiring a law firm that understands the stakes and defends your right to self-defense.
Citations
Cherpitel, C. J. et al., Attribution of Alcohol to Violence-Related Injury: Self and Other’s Drinking in the Event, 73(2) Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 277–284 (2012), https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2012.73.277 (last visited on October 30, 2025).
Alcohol, Drugs, and Crime, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) (2025), https://ncaddnational.org/addiction_articles/alcohol-drugs-and-crime/ (last visited on October 30, 2025).
Kuhns, J. B. et al., The Prevalence of Alcohol-Involved Homicide Offending: A Meta-Analytic Review, 18(3) Homicide Studies: An Interdisciplinary & International Journal, 251-270 (2014), https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/1088767913493629 (last visited on October 30, 2025).
