CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Some refer to it as “Blackout Wednesday,” while others have dubbed it “Drinksgiving” or even “Drunksgiving.”
Undoubtedly, the night before Thanksgiving has become a mini-holiday, with bars and restaurants welcoming customers seeking to raise a glass or two.
The majority of Americans have Thursday off, and many are back in their hometowns hoping to reconnect with old friends.
This sets the stage for pre-turkey-day gatherings and serves as a sobering reminder that starting the holiday right may simply involve being vigilant tonight.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, those festivities can lead to increased incidents of buzzed and drunk driving. They have even launched a campaign just to deal with this one day.
This serves as a cautionary reminder that even one glass can sometimes be one-too-many.
The Corpus Christi Police Department informs us that, regrettably, they must be continually prepared to handle cases of drunk driving.
CCPD Senior Officer Jennifer Collier said, “The DWI Tak Force is working every night. They are out working tonight. They have specific hours that they work and that’s what they’re looking for. They are looking strictly for DWI drivers.”
Additionally, they are not alone in this effort.
The Texas Highway Patrol will also be taking note of anyone who should not be behind the wheel. According to TXDPS Staff Sergeant Harold Mallory, Troopers will be out in force.
“The Texas Department of Public Safety is participating in Operation CARE, which stands for Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort,” Mallory said. “We have additional troopers out looking for all sorts of traffic violations, but focusing mainly on speeding, intoxicated driving and individuals not wearing their seatbelt.”
Both law enforcement agencies advise that if everyone in your party is drinking, plan to use a taxi or rideshare service to get home. Also, if you have agreed to be the group’s designated driver, take it seriously. It does not mean to just limit your drinking but means that you remain 100% sober.
The goal is for everyone to be able to make it to the table on Thursday.
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