Charlotte, NC – Drivers across North Carolina are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as early Thanksgiving travel, packed entertainment districts and heavy binge-drinking activity create dangerous conditions along major highways including I-40, I-85, and I-77.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—widely known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the nation’s most alcohol-heavy nights. In 2022, liquor orders rose 156% compared to the previous Wednesday, while beer sales increased 85% and cocktail orders climbed 69%. Public-health experts cite holiday stress, short workweeks and pre-Thanksgiving gatherings as key drivers of binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows drivers face a 55% higher chance of encountering 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 holiday travel period.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol and local police departments in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Fayetteville and Wilmington are expanding DUI enforcement Wednesday night. Officials say I-40, I-85, I-77, and nightlife hubs like Uptown Charlotte, Raleigh’s Glenwood South, downtown Durham and college districts around UNC, NC State and Duke routinely see increased impairment-related incidents as college students return home and bars fill.
Similar patterns appear nationwide. Cities including Indianapolis and Minneapolis report Blackout Wednesday has, in some years, surpassed New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Authorities warn that the same risks apply in North Carolina, where heavy interstate travel and major nightlife centers amplify roadway dangers.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, plan sober transportation and report suspected impaired drivers immediately.
