Orlando, FL – Drivers across Florida are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as early Thanksgiving travel mixes with one of the busiest drinking nights of the year along major corridors including I-4, I-95, and I-75.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—commonly known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the nation’s most alcohol-heavy nights. Liquor orders rose 156% in 2022 compared to the prior Wednesday, while beer sales climbed 85% and cocktail orders increased 69%. Public-health experts say holiday stress, short workweeks and social gatherings contribute to widespread binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows drivers are 55% more likely to encounter an impaired motorist on Thanksgiving than on an average day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people nationwide were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving travel period.
The Florida Highway Patrol, along with police departments in Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, are expanding DUI patrols Wednesday night. Troopers say I-4, I-95, I-75, and major nightlife areas like Orlando’s Downtown and International Drive, South Beach, Tampa’s Ybor City and Gainesville’s college district often see an increase in impairment-related crashes as students return home and bar crowds grow.
Similar trends have been reported across the country. Cities such as Indianapolis and Minneapolis note that Blackout Wednesday has, in some years, surpassed New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Officials warn the same risks apply across Florida, where dense tourism traffic and heavy interstate travel heighten dangers for nighttime drivers.
Motorists are urged to avoid late-night travel, arrange sober transportation and report suspected impaired drivers immediately.
