What should I do if someone who seems drunk or on drugs approaches me?

What should I do if someone who seems drunk or on drugs approaches me?

Chris McGoey (President, McGoey Security Consulting) gives expert video advice on: What should I do if a predator demands my purse or wallet?; What should I do if a predator tries force me into a car? and more...

If someone approaches you who is intoxicated then you have a dilemma. You don't want to be unfriendly, but truthfully, you'd rather not engage with this person. Not making eye contact in that scenario works well, as does avoiding the person, stepping around them or going the other direction. While the latter may seem simplistic it often makes it clear that you don't give that person a chance to engage with you. That's my advice in those situations: don't initiate dialogue, don't make eye contact and physically avoid them.