Fargo, ND – Drivers across North Dakota are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the nation’s busiest drinking nights mixes with early Thanksgiving travel along major corridors including I-94, I-29, and US-2.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—widely known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of America’s heaviest alcohol-consumption nights. In 2022, liquor orders rose 156% compared to the previous Wednesday, while beer sales jumped 85% and cocktail orders climbed 69%. Public-health experts say short workweeks, holiday stress and pre-feast gatherings fuel widespread binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows motorists are 55% more likely to encounter an impaired driver 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 travel period.
North Dakota Highway Patrol, along with police departments in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot and West Fargo, are expanding DUI enforcement Wednesday night. Troopers say I-94, I-29, US-2, and nightlife districts around downtown Fargo, Grand Forks’ university area and Bismarck’s entertainment zone often see elevated impairment-related incidents as college students return home and bars fill ahead of the holiday.
Nationwide trends mirror these concerns. Cities such as Indianapolis and Minneapolis report that Blackout Wednesday can surpass New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests—a pattern North Dakota officials say applies in the region, especially with its high concentration of college-aged drinkers and busy interstate travel.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, arrange sober rides and report suspected impaired drivers immediately.
