Omaha, NE – Drivers across Nebraska are being urged to use extreme caution this Blackout Wednesday, as one of the year’s busiest drinking nights intersects with early holiday travel along major routes including I-80, I-680, and US-75.
According to Alcohol.org, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—nationally known as Blackout Wednesday or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of America’s heaviest alcohol-consumption nights. In 2022, liquor orders rose 156% over the previous Wednesday, with beer sales climbing 85% and cocktail orders increasing 69%. Public-health experts say holiday stress, short workweeks and large pre-Thanksgiving gatherings contribute to widespread binge drinking.
National traffic-safety data shows drivers are 55% more likely to encounter 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 Thanksgiving travel window…