Birmingham, AL – Drivers across Alabama are being urged to use heightened caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the year’s busiest drinking nights overlaps with heavy Thanksgiving travel along key routes including I-65, I-20, and I-59.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—known nationwide as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of America’s most alcohol-heavy nights. In 2022, liquor orders surged 156% over the prior Wednesday, while beer sales climbed 85% and cocktail orders increased 69%. Public-health officials say holiday stress, short workweeks and pre-holiday gatherings contribute to widespread binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows motorists are 55% more likely to encounter an impaired driver on Thanksgiving compared to a typical day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people nationwide were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving travel period.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), along with police in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, is deploying additional DUI patrols Wednesday night. Troopers say I-65, I-20, I-59, and nightlife corridors such as Birmingham’s Lakeview District, downtown Mobile, Tuscaloosa’s Strip and Huntsville’s entertainment district often see an increase in impairment-related incidents as college students return home and bars fill before the holiday.
Similar trends have been reported across the U.S. Cities like Indianapolis and Minneapolis have found Blackout Wednesday can surpass New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests—an emerging risk profile Alabama officials say applies to the state’s high-volume interstates and strong nightlife turnout.
Motorists are urged to avoid late-night travel, arrange sober rides and quickly report suspected impaired drivers.
