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Holiday DWI Statistics You Should Know

thanksgiving dinner table and people cheersing red wine

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Holiday DWI Statistics You Should Know

It’s no secret that alcohol is a common component of most people’s holiday celebrations. You’ve probably seen a few holiday-themed cocktail recipes on your social media feeds already. Let’s discuss why the holidays tend to result in a spike of binge drinking and how that affects DWI rates in the thick of the holiday season.

Why Do People Drink More Over the Holidays?

The holidays are a time for celebration, and that is usually accompanied by alcohol. There are numerous reasons why people tend to drink more at this time:

  • More time socializing: Family gatherings, house parties, and office parties all give people reasons to drink. On average, Americans attend three social events a week during the holidays. Many people use alcohol as a social lubricant, so this uptick in events to attend also leads to an increase in drinking.
  • Seasonal drinks: some alcoholic favorites are reserved for the winter holiday months, like spiked eggnog and coffee with cream liquor. Many people can justify drinking these more often during the winter because they won’t be able to again until the next year.
  • Loneliness: while the holidays are supposed to be a time for fun, family, and friends, this can be triggering for some people who are going through tough times in those areas. Some people experience depression during the winter holidays and use alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Interesting Statistics About Holiday Drinking

Here are some numbers that help exemplify the increase in binge drinking we see over the holiday season:

  • 25% of adults report that they drink more over the holidays.
  • Blackout Wednesday, or Thanksgiving Eve, is one of the heaviest drinking days of the year. On this night, beer and liquor sales increase by over 100%.
  • The average person has eight drinks per week during the holiday season. During other times of the year, that average is four.
  • Champagne is the most popular drink for the winter holidays - on New Year’s Eve, over 300 million glasses of champagne are consumed each year.
  • Over of traffic fatalities from Thanksgiving to New Year’s involve a drunk driver.
  • High-risk DUI offenders are 44% more likely to drive intoxicated during the holiday season.
  • Thousands of people are arrested for DUI on holiday weekends.

Austin DWI Arrests

When enjoying the holidays with your loved ones, you may get caught up in the festivities and have a bit too much to drink before heading home. If you are arrested for DWI this holiday season, Smith & Vinson Law Firm is here to help.

Fill out our contact form here to set up a free case consultation with our Texas criminal defense team. Call us at (512) 359-3743.

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