drunk tank

drunk tank

slang A jail cell where people are detained after having been arrested for public drunkenness or a similar offense. My son's in the drunk tank, so I have to go down to the police station and pick him up.
See also: drunk, tank
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

drunk tank

n. a jail cell where drunks are kept. (see also junk tank.) They hose down the drunk tank every hour on Friday and Saturday nights.
See also: drunk, tank
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • not see straight
  • can't see straight
  • drunker
  • drunker than Cooter Brown
  • drunker than Cootie Brown
  • pifficated
  • funky-drunk
  • screaming drunk
  • stinking drunk
  • screech
References in periodicals archive
Mr Walton added: "We are only too happy to help out and provide a number of tents and equipment for the pop-up drunk tanks.
ROOM AT INN FOR FESTIVE BOOZERS TO SLEEP IT OFF
There is no such thing as a free drink, and neither is there such a thing as a free drunk tank.
AGENDA: Bladdered? Welcome to the Brum drunk tank
None of this is new to experienced paramedic Paul Harding-Hubbard, one of the six on duty at the drunk tank until 4am on Saturday morning.
Booze battle drunk tank is on front line
The drunk tank is the latest example of the authorities' attempt to deal with excess drinking in Cardiff, after police last week designated three city centre bars as "red traffic light" premises.
Hart calling for a UHW 'drunk tank' 'drunk tank; Supervised area would protect staff and patients from violent abuse
2 Paddy Power taking a "drunk tank" to Royal Ascot so punters can sleep off the booze.
And so to the 5 BIG QUESTIONS of the week
Royal Ascot revellers who overdo it on booze could end up jailed behind 'bars' of mobile drunk tank
Seagulls attack postman sparking delivery problems for more than 100 homes; Residents have resorted to hiding under umbrellas to fend off the vicious birds
BOOZED.UP revellers will be able to recover from the effects of binge drinking at a new "drunk tank" proposed for Middlesbrough.
New 'drunk tank' plan for town centre partygoers
Westminster Council has opened a 'drunk tank', to prevent A&E departments becoming overrun with sozzled patients.
Unhappy time waiting with the A&E drunks
The idea of a "drunk tank" in A&E -a supervised room where people can sleep off the effects of consuming too much alcohol without causing disruption - has also been mooted.
The growing burden our enjoyment of alcohol puts on us and on the NHS; THE PROFESSIONALS Si,n Owen
A mobile treatment unit, nicknamed a "drunk tank" was set up at the Millennium Stadium from 8pm until 4am to treat patients with non-emergency injuries who were brought in by ambulance from the surrounding city centre area.
Capital New Year starts with a bang; Revellers brave winter snap to enjoy best Cardiff has to offer on freezing New Year's Eve night out
Ambulance service bosses last night hailed their pioneering "drunk tank" initiative a success, with paramedics treating 140 patients at their festive clinic in Birmingham.
Here's to 'drunk tank' initiative
"DRUNK tank" is an ugly phrase fo r an ugly modern phenomenon - that of the epidemic of binge drinking which blights our town and city centres.
Set for a tankful
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has agreed to discuss the drunk tank plan with Tory leader Ruth Davidson.
EVERY 21 MINUTES; Overworked ambulances are called out to deal with a drunk
DRUNK TANK A private company will run them, surely a supermarket is the type to use, lock them up, then stock them up with more supplies of cheap booze.
Don't be wet, let's break the taboo on this wee subject
It will soon become a rite of passage for yobs and smashed stag night revellers to get banged up for a night in a drunk tank.
Forget the booze bus, make them pay the price..