Baltimore, MD – Drivers across Maryland are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the heaviest drinking nights of the year combines with early holiday travel and packed nightlife districts to create hazardous conditions along I-95, I-695, US-50, and other major roadways.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—nationally known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has rapidly become one of the biggest alcohol-consumption nights in the U.S. Liquor orders rose 156% in 2022 compared to the previous Wednesday, while beer sales jumped 85% and cocktail orders increased 69%. Public-health experts say holiday stress, long weekends and large social gatherings drive unusually high binge-drinking rates.
National traffic-safety data shows the risk of encountering an impaired driver on Thanksgiving is 55% higher than on an average day. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 people nationwide were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving travel period…