HOUSTON — The night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year and especially popular with college students and other underage drinkers, according to the Texas Survey of Substance Abuse Among College Students.
With no school or work on Thanksgiving, a lot of people like to party the night before and the roads are full of drunk drivers, which is why it's been dubbed "Blackout Wednesday."
The risk is especially high among underage drinkers who booze it up before getting behind the wheel, experts say.
- 1,500+ college students die each year from alcohol-related accidents and injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
- In Texas, 26% of drivers in alcohol-related crashes and 25% of drunk drivers killed in fatal car crashes last year were age 25 or under, the Texas Survey of Substance Abuse Among College Students reported.
- 12% of Texas college students report driving after drinking at least once in a month and about 19% have said they ride in a car with someone who was high or drunk at least once in a typical month, TSCS said.
"At the end of the day it boils down to the choices you make, but I can assure you that Harris County law enforcement will be out in full force," Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman warned. "I've spoken with all other local law enforcement leaders, we'll be collaborating again this year through the holidays to work together."
For parents, communication is the most powerful tool.
Research shows parents are the main reason young people choose not to drink, making it even more important for parents to start talking to their children about alcohol at an early age, according to Texans For Safe and Drug-Free Youth.
TSDFY experts offers these suggestions for parents.
1. Show you disapprove of underage drinking: Your children are listening, so be clear with your messages.
2. Show you care about your child’s happiness and well-being: Let your child know you care about their happiness, health, and safety. If they know you’re on their side, they’re more likely to listen.
3. Show you’re a good source of information about alcohol: Establish yourself as a trustworthy source of information so your children are coming to you – not their friends, the internet, or the media – to learn about alcohol.
4. Show you’re paying attention and you’ll notice if your child drinks: Young people are more likely to drink if they think you won’t notice. Make sure they know you’re aware of and care about what they’re doing.
5. Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding underage drinking: The power of peer pressure is very real. Help your child build and practice skills to resist peer pressure for whenever they might encounter it.
Parents should also encourage children not to drive after drinking or get in a vehicle with a driver who's been drinking. They should know the dangers, as well as the legal implications, of drunk driving.
If they find themselves in that situation, they should be encouraged to call a parent or rideshare.