Salt Lake City, UT – Drivers across Utah are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the nation’s busiest drinking nights overlaps with early Thanksgiving travel along I-15, I-80, and I-215.
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 surged 156% over the previous Wednesday, while beer sales rose 85% and cocktail orders climbed 69%. Public-health experts say holiday stress, shortened workweeks and pre-holiday gatherings drive 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.
The Utah Highway Patrol, along with police departments in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, St. George, Logan and West Valley City, are expanding DUI patrols Wednesday night. Troopers say I-15, I-80, I-215, and nightlife corridors including Downtown SLC, Sugar House, Park City, Provo Center Street and major college-area districts near the University of Utah and BYU often see elevated impairment-related incidents as students return home and bar crowds increase.
National trends show similar risks. Cities such as Indianapolis and Minneapolis report that Blackout Wednesday can surpass New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day for DUI arrests. Utah officials warn the same concerns apply statewide, especially with dense interstate travel, ski-season traffic and expanding nightlife hubs.
Drivers are urged to avoid late-night travel, arrange sober transportation and report suspected impaired motorists immediately.
