Detroit, MI – Drivers across Michigan are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the heaviest drinking nights of the year overlaps with early Thanksgiving traffic on major corridors including I-75, I-94, and US-131.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—nationally known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become a major alcohol-consumption event across the country. Liquor orders climbed 156% in 2022 compared to the prior Wednesday, with beer sales up 85% and cocktail orders rising 69%. Public-health experts say holiday stress, long weekends and pre-Thanksgiving gatherings significantly drive binge-drinking behaviors.
National traffic-safety data shows drivers are 55% more likely to encounter an impaired motorist on Thanksgiving compared to an average day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people nationwide were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Michigan State Police, along with local departments in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, are deploying expanded DUI patrols Wednesday night. Officials say I-75, I-94, US-131, and nightlife hubs such as Downtown Detroit, Midtown, East Lansing, Ann Arbor’s Main Street and Grand Rapids’ entertainment district often see increased impairment-related incidents as college students return home and bars fill ahead of the holiday.
Similar patterns have been documented nationwide. Cities like Indianapolis and Minneapolis report Blackout Wednesday can surpass New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Authorities warn that Michigan’s combination of major interstates, high holiday travel volume and college-driven nightlife creates similar risks statewide.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, arrange sober transportation and report suspected impaired drivers immediately.
