Given a number of nicknames, including Drinksgiving or Blackout Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve has become to represent an evening of heavy drinking, due to many individuals, including college students who can now legally drink, returning to their hometown for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Eve has turned into one of the biggest bar nights of the year, surpassing New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day in some areas. The majority of people do not work on Thanksgiving, which allows them to spend the evening catching up with old friends at the bar.

The name “Blackout Wednesday” is a unique term, but associates the day with drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, leading to “blacking out” or memory loss. Drinksgiving does not only represent a popular night at the bar, but it also represents a dangerous night on the roads.

During the holiday season, running from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, DUI rates are anywhere from double to triple the normal rates from any other time during the year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 728 people will be injured or killed each day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day as a result of drunk driving. Some bars report sales increase of 270% on beer and 114% on hard liquor on Drinksgiving.

If you don’t plan on heading to the bars on Drinksgiving, you may want to try to avoid the roads. If you do plan on going to the bar, plan accordingly and make sure you have a safe way home. The holidays are a time for people to enjoy the company of friends and family. If you want to have a safe and joyful holiday season, don’t drink and drive.

If you are facing criminal charges, Mark Mandell is an experienced Metro Detroit defense attorney and a former prosecutor. Call Fausone & Grysko, PLC today at  734-552-1449, and find out how our defense attorneys can help you.