‘Drinksgiving’ tradition surges in popularity on Thanksgiving Eve
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While most Americans are familiar with Thanksgiving, a lesser-known tradition called “drinking day” has grown in popularity in recent years.
Also known as “Blackout Wednesday,” the drinking party is celebrated the night before Thanksgiving, a time when many people flock to bars to blow off steam and reconnect with hometown friends ahead of the holiday weekend.
Last year’s drinking parties appeared particularly active, according to a 2024 report from data firm BeerBoard; On-premise alcohol sales increased on Thanksgiving Eve.
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The company, which manages data on more than $1 billion in alcohol sales and tracks more than 100,000 products, found that spirits sales rose 39.6% last year compared to Thanksgiving Eve 2023, with tequila contributing to that increase.
Packaged beer and cider saw an 18% increase in sales, while wine sales rose 28.7% last year.
“Drink Day,” also known as “Blackout Wednesday,” has become a popular pre-Thanksgiving night for hometown gatherings and bar crowds. (iStock)
“It’s traditionally known as the busiest bar night of the year,” Vicki Parmelee, owner of Jumby Bay Island Grill in Jupiter, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
What is driving the increase? Jonathan Alpert, a New York City-based psychotherapist, told Fox News Digital that Thanksgiving Eve often “blends nostalgia with emotional relief.”
“People are coming home, returning to their familiar roles, and reconnecting with friends who knew them before adult pressures set in,” the expert said. “Alcohol is becoming the socially accepted shortcut to feeling relaxed and connected before intense family gatherings the next day.”
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Alpert added that going home can also “activate” an earlier version of oneself, especially when seeing old friends.
“Reconnecting restores a sense of identity and belonging,” he said. “The important thing is that alcohol often becomes a means of quickly accessing these emotions, rather than allowing them to arise naturally through real conversation.”
“A little awareness can prevent a holiday tradition from turning into an emotional hangover the next day.”
He recommended bar patrons decide how they want to feel the next morning before ordering multiple drinks.
“Set a limit, eat beforehand, and replace drinks with water,” Alpert suggested. “If the goal is connection, focus on that—meaning asking questions, listening, having real conversations. When people focus on reconnecting from drinking, they often leave the night feeling really good rather than depleted.”
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He said drinkers need to be in touch with their emotions before deciding to drink.
“If it’s about celebrating and reconnecting, great. If it’s about avoiding stress, relieving discomfort, or supporting family dynamics, that’s worth considering,” he said.
The rise of “drinking” reflects how some Americans cope with celebration and stress ahead of one of the biggest holidays of the year. (iStock)
“A little awareness can prevent a holiday tradition from turning into an emotional hangover the next day.”
And not all holiday drinking will happen on Thanksgiving Eve.
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Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist who lives in Beverly Hills, Calif., said the large amount of drinking on Thanksgiving is a likely cause of political division.
“Some families have a lot of anxiety leading up to Thanksgiving about whether Uncle Joe or Aunt Sally is going to start ranting about this politician or that,” he told Fox News Digital.
Drinking too much on Thanksgiving may worsen family tensions, a psychiatrist says. (iStock)
For some families, increasing political division could make Thanksgiving gatherings more stressful, Lieberman suggested.
But the doctor warned that binge drinking will never cure social anxiety.
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“Although it’s fun to drown out some of that anxiety by drinking alcohol at a drinking party, [you] “I don’t want to be hungover or still drunk on Thanksgiving because that could make arguments worse,” he said.
