New Orleans, LA – Drivers across Louisiana are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the year’s busiest drinking nights collides with heavy holiday travel along major routes including I-10, I-12, and I-20.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—widely known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the nation’s heaviest alcohol-consumption nights. Liquor orders surged 156% in 2022 compared to the prior Wednesday, while beer sales increased 85% and cocktail orders grew 69%. Health experts say holiday stress, long weekends and pre-Thanksgiving gatherings all contribute to widespread binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows motorists are 55% more likely to encounter an impaired driver 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 Louisiana State Police, along with police departments in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Monroe, are increasing DUI patrols Wednesday night. Officials say I-10, I-12, I-20, and high-traffic nightlife corridors—such as the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, downtown Baton Rouge, Shreveport’s Red River District and campus districts at LSU and UL Lafayette—often see elevated impairment-related incidents as students return home and bars fill ahead of the holiday.
National trends show similar risks. Cities such as Indianapolis and Minneapolis report that Blackout Wednesday can surpass New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Louisiana officials warn the state faces comparable dangers, especially with dense nightlife zones and heavy interstate travel.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, arrange sober transportation and report suspected impaired drivers immediately.
