Portland, ME – Drivers across Maine are being urged to use extra caution this Blackout Wednesday, as holiday travelers and packed bar districts converge on some of the state’s busiest routes, including I-95 and US-1.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—widely known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the heaviest drinking nights of the year in the U.S. Liquor orders jumped 156% on Blackout Wednesday in 2022 compared to the previous week, with beer sales up 85%, cocktails up 69%, and wine also increasing. Public-health experts note that holiday stress, time off work and large social gatherings all fuel a spike in binge drinking.
According to national traffic safety data, the risk of encountering an impaired driver on Thanksgiving is 55% higher than on an average day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period nationwide.
Law enforcement agencies across Maine—including the Maine State Police and local departments in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston—are deploying additional DUI patrols Wednesday night. Police say I-95, US-1, and downtown entertainment areas historically see higher intoxication and crash risks as college students return home and bars fill before Thanksgiving.
Other states have reported similar trends. In cities like Indianapolis and Minneapolis, Blackout Wednesday has become one of the busiest drinking nights of the year, often surpassing New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Officials stress that the same conditions apply in Maine: crowded roads, early holiday travel and late-night bar traffic.
Drivers are urged to plan ahead, avoid late-night travel when possible, and report impaired driving immediately.
