The Dangerous Rise of Blackout Wednesday
As you and your loved ones get together this week to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, there is likely to be a vibrant discussion of plans to take advantage well-publicized sales the next day. For some, the shopping may even begin Thanksgiving night. The retail event known as Black Friday has been a part of American culture for many years now, however its bookend counterpart on the opposite side of Thanksgiving is quickly developing a reputation of its own, but for vastly different reasons. The day once innocently called Thanksgiving Eve by those anticipating the next day’s celebration, has become known as Blackout Wednesday to bartenders and law enforcement, and hospitals around the country are preparing for a marked increase in drunk-driving injuries and deaths. If Black Friday represents consumer indulgence, Blackout Wednesday is synonymous with overindulgence, but with much higher stakes.
Contributing Factors
There are number of reasons that the day before Thanksgiving has become one of the year’s busiest nights for bars and clubs. Among college students and recent graduates, many are able to make it home for the long weekend, taking at least one night to meet up with classmates and friends who have all gone their separate ways. Established professionals, likewise, are often off work early on that day and do not have to work Thanksgiving, so a happy hour beer can quickly turn into a full night out. Many also look forward to a big meal the next day, hopefully one that will provide relief from the inevitable hangover.
Plan to Be Safe
While there is certainly nothing wrong with getting together with old friends and enjoying alcoholic beverages, problem can arise if and when you are not prepared. Before you go out, know how are you getting home. Do not drive if you have had too much to drink and do not ride with anyone else who is not sober. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, just by being on the road, your risk of being involved in an alcohol-related accident is about 30 percent higher from Blackout Wednesday through the New Year’s holiday. Your risks are even greater if you are the one driving drunk.
It does not take much to be prepared for a good time. Arrange for a non-drinking friend or family member to come pick you up, or take an Uber. Designate a driver, or, if you want your friends to “owe you one,” be the designated driver. There is far too much at stake for you to drive drunk, and, yes, if you are buzzed, you are drunk. You do not need to jeopardize your future or the safety of others on the road.
If you are involved in a drunk-driving accident, whether it is during the holiday season or any other time of the year, you need reliable advice from a knowledgeable legal professional. Contact an experienced San Jose personal injury lawyer to learn more about your options for collecting compensation and pursuing full justice for your injuries. Call 408-286-2300 today to get the quality representation you deserve.
Sources:
http://www.kcra.com/news/lodi-police-increase-presence-for-blackout-wednesday/29955908
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-11-26/blackout-wednesday-and-americas-boozy-past
http://info.scramsystems.com/infographic-drinking-and-duis-during-the-holidays-scram-systems
