How to Stay Safe on Blackout Wednesday
November 20, 2025 | Adriel B. Villarreal
The night before Thanksgiving, known as “Blackout Wednesday” or “Drinksgiving,” has become a dangerous night for driving due to widespread binge drinking. Most college students are home for the holiday and spend Thanksgiving Eve partying with friends. Many adults of all ages also go to the local bar, enjoying the night before their day off from work.
Unfortunately, this binge drinking also leads to an increased rate of impaired driving on Thanksgiving Eve. To help protect our community, we’re sharing these tips to help you stay safe on Blackout Wednesday.
Don’t Drink and Drive
We hope this first one is obvious, but it still needs to be said. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your judgment and make driving dangerous for yourself and everyone around you. DUI and DWI charges are also serious matters that could bring jail time, large fines, and license revocation.
If you do drink on Blackout Wednesday, have a designated driver or use a rideshare service. This is a vital step to take even if you were planning on driving. Find a ride and come back for your car once you’re sober.
Drunk driving causes approximately 11,000 deaths in the United States every year. Drinking and driving simply isn’t worth the risk.
Tell Someone Your Plans
If you have plans on Blackout Wednesday, even if you’re not planning on drinking, tell someone about them. This could be a family member, roommate, or close friend. Tell them where you are going, when you plan to get back, and how you plan to travel. This person can serve as your emergency contact for the evening and will hopefully notice if you don’t return when you said you would. If you experience an accident or can’t find a ride, reach out and let them know your situation.
Know Your Limits
This is important to remember anytime you are drinking, but especially on such a dangerous night. Never drink more than you can handle. Too much alcohol can harm your body and seriously impair your judgment, causing you to do things you’ll regret. Set a limit for yourself before drinking and stick to it. Ask a trusted friend to hold you accountable to your limit.
Drive Safely
As stated above, you should never drink and drive. But if you are the designated driver or are otherwise not drinking on Blackout Wednesday, you should still exercise caution while driving. You may encounter impaired drivers, and there will likely be additional patrols during the evening. Stay focused on the road and always be aware of your surroundings. If your passengers are distracting you, find a safe place to park or pull over until they begin acting respectfully. If you pull over on the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights to alert other motorists of your presence.
Contact Barna, Guzy & Steffen
Even if you act safely and exercise caution on Blackout Wednesday, incidents can still happen. If you experience a car accident, a personal injury, or a DUI/DWI charge, the attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen may be able to help. See our previous blog for what to do if you are pulled over for drinking and driving, and contact us to schedule a consultation.