Manchester, NH – Drivers across New Hampshire are being urged to use extra caution this Blackout Wednesday, as holiday travel, crowded bar districts and binge-drinking trends create potentially hazardous conditions on major routes, including I-93 and NH-101.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—known nationally as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. In 2022, liquor orders rose 156% compared to the prior Wednesday, while beer sales climbed 85% and cocktail orders jumped 69%. Health experts say the combination of holiday stress, extended weekends and large social gatherings fuels an annual spike in binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows the risk of encountering an impaired driver on Thanksgiving is 55% higher than on a typical day. Between 2017 and 2021, over 830 people died in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
New Hampshire State Police and local departments in Manchester, Nashua, Concord and Portsmouth are adding DUI patrols Wednesday night. Officials say I-93, NH-101, Elm Street, and other busy nightlife corridors often see heightened impairment-related activity as college students return home and bars fill before the holiday.
Similar patterns appear across the U.S. Cities like Indianapolis and Minneapolis report Blackout Wednesday sometimes surpasses New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Law enforcement warns that the mix of packed bars and heavy holiday travel can create dangerous conditions even for cautious drivers.
Drivers in New Hampshire are urged to plan ahead, avoid late-night travel when possible and report suspected impaired driving immediately.
