Thanksgiving Eve
Observed byUnited States of America
Datefourth Wednesday in November
2023 date22 November 2023
2024 date27 November 2024
2025 date26 November 2025
2026 date25 November 2026

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]

References

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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


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