It’s no secret. Most adult Americans enjoy some occasional alcohol consumption. The majority of Americans also celebrate one or more holidays during the last few months of the year. As these holidays approach, more and more Americans are using the time around said holidays to combine their love of an intoxicating spirit with their festive spirit and create a new and unofficial holiday.
One of said holidays occurs around Thanksgiving. Two days before Black Friday, some will celebrate “Blackout Wednesday or Drinksgiving.” As the name implies, Blackout Wednesday is said by many to be “one of the busiest nights of the year at bars as people celebrate the holiday early.”
According to the Gateway Foundation, “the National Safety Council estimates that more than 400 people may die on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday period in a given year.” WLWT in Cincinnati interviewed Cheryl Parker of AAA Cincinnati, who noted that “Nationally, 50 more people will die in Thanksgiving week crashes than any other time of year.”
It is completely understandable to look forward to this time of year as an opportunity to leave life’s stressors at the door for a few days and celebrate with loved ones. It is also ironic that the Holiday associated with “binge eating” follows a night of “binge drinking.”
If you’re participating in Blackout Wednesday this year, consider these tips:
1. Don’t take the name seriously. Remember that it is okay to have a few drinks with friends and family without getting to the point of literally blacking out, which carries many health and safety risks.
2. Mix in a water here and there. Drinking water between drinks can help mitigate the risks of blacking out by helping with hydration and over drinking of alcohol.
3. Secure a designated driver-before you start drinking. Having a sober driver take you home can be the difference between enjoying your Thanksgiving meal in a jail cell, hospital bed, or worse.
4. Secure an alternative transportation mode home. With the rise in mobile apps such as Uber and Lyft, as well as other more traditional forms of public transportation such as buses, trains, taxis, and subways, there has never been more access to safe and sober transportation. If you do not have a designated driver, consider familiarizing yourself with one of these alternative forms of transportation before you start drinking.
5. Depending where you are, consider staying the night. Many Blackout Wednesday parties take place with the closest of family and friends. If you are partying at a very close friend or family member’s house and your designated driver has either disappeared or is no longer sober and you do not have an alternative mode of transportation, ask to stay the night, even if it is on the floor or on the couch. Again, one night of uncomfortable sleep is better than the alternative.
If you’re not participating in Blackout Wednesday this year, you can make a difference for those who are:
1. Be a designated driver for a friend or loved one. If you are already planning to attend a party but not drinking, consider driving one or more of your friends back to their home following the party. The fewer impaired drivers on the road, the better.
2. Check in on a friend or loved one who is participating. Make sure that they have a plan for safe transportation beforehand and then check on them after their evening out.
3. Remain vigilant on the road. Remember that while you will not be drinking and driving, others unfortunately will. If you have to drive on Thanksgiving Eve, keep an eye out for impaired drivers. Be particularly vigilant to avoid a collision and protect yourself and your family from the dangers on the road. If you see what appears to be an intoxicated driver, maintain a safe distance and call the police.
No matter whether you are a participant or not, Metzger Wickersham hopes that you have a safe and happy holiday!