Ohboy I see the frustration. The problem one simply sees their latest problem or arrest as an obstacle to be cleared in their path of destruction. The lawyer told the problem one that drinking from his open container in the car shortly before he got stopped contributed to his above the legal limit test. Although he is always trying to rationalize and minimize his actions so the lawyer might have actually lectured him about the open container.
Although I think many a client exploit the lawyers work you would figure with client confidentiality the lawyers would advise them off the record start attending AA meetings or read this off the record etc. If nothing else they could always tell a judge my client has been in AA or rehab on their own.
Hellooo, 1/2 century old man drinking from an open container in a car like a teenager a victim of circumstance???