Blackout Wednesday

Last updated
Thanksgiving Eve
Observed byUnited States of America
Datefourth Wednesday in November
2023 date22 November 2023
2024 date27 November 2024
2025 date26 November 2025

Blackout Wednesday (also known as Drinksgiving) refers to binge drinking on the night before the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. Very few people work on Thanksgiving, and most college students are home with their families for the Thanksgiving holiday, [1] which means that high school friends can catch up at the local bar as they converge on their hometown. [2]

"Blacking out" is a slang term for unconsciousness and/or memory loss due to excessive alcohol intoxication. In some Chicago suburbs like Highwood, Naperville, and Rockford, Blackout Wednesday can be a more popular party night than New Year's Eve or Saint Patrick's Day. [1]

In some cities, it is the worst drunk driving night of the year, [3] and police departments increase patrols checking for drunk driving in many jurisdictions including in Indiana [4] and Minnesota. [5] MADD reports that the Thanksgiving holiday produces more people killed in drunk driving crashes than the Christmas holiday. [6]

The term "Drinksgiving" dates to 2007. The phenomenon is believed to have originated decades before the names were created. [2]

Related Research Articles

Drunk driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle with the operator's ability to do so impaired as a result of alcohol consumption, or with a blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit. For drivers 21 years or older, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal. For drivers under 21 years old, the legal limit is lower, with state limits ranging from 0.00 to 0.02. Lower BAC limits apply when operating boats, airplanes, or commercial vehicles. Among other names, the criminal offense of drunk driving may be called driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI), operating [a] vehicle under the influence of alcohol (OVI), or operating while impaired (OWI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Friday (shopping)</span> Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight or even on Thanksgiving. Some stores' sales continue to Monday or for a week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driving under the influence</span> Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an impairing substance

Driving under the influence (DUI) is the offense of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, to a level that renders the driver incapable of operating a motor vehicle safely. Multiple other terms are used for the offense in various jurisdictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mothers Against Drunk Driving</span> Nonprofit organization

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a non-profit organization in the United States, Canada and Brazil that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and strive for stricter impaired driving policy, whether that impairment is caused by alcohol or any other drug. The Irving, Texas-based organization was founded on September 5, 1980, in California by Candace Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver. There is at least one MADD office in every state of the United States and at least one in each province of Canada. These offices offer victim services and many resources involving alcohol safety. MADD has claimed that drunk driving has been reduced by half since its founding.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Designated driver</span> Person who by agreement stays sober in order to drive a vehicle for non-sober persons.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Random checkpoint</span> Temporary military or police roadblock

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References

  1. 1 2 Spak, Kara (November 22, 2011). "Biggest night of the year". Sun Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  2. 1 2 How the night before Thanksgiving became the biggest drinking night of the year by Amelia Rayno, from the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis, Minnesota; November 22, 2017
  3. Nelson, Emily (2011-11-22). "Before the Turkey, A Big Night of Drinking". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  4. wthr.com JENNIE RUNEVITCH, Police to increase patrols for "Blackout Wednesday" WTHR, 11/23/2016
  5. Tim Harlow, On 'Blackout Wednesday' law enforcement will be looking for blitzed drivers startribune.com NOVEMBER 22, 2016
  6. MADD MADD’s “Tie One On For Safety” Holiday Campaign Cautions Drivers as More Highway Deaths Caused by Drunk Driving Archived 2016-11-24 at the Wayback Machine 11/13/2012