Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends get together to share a meal and enjoy each other's company. We will spend time watching the parade, playing touch football, catching up with relatives that have been away or just relaxing on the couch together after a big meal watching the game, but the night before has become one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, surpassing New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day. It has been referred to as "Blackout Wednesday." It's a time when college students are home and high school students are off for a long weekend. Young people reunite with friends over beers or alcoholic beverages in local bars. But what often starts out as a joyous celebration all too often ends up as a senseless tragedy. Drunk driving accidents, assaults and vandalism are all too often the result.
To insure that this doesn't happen in our town, on Blackout Wednesday, the Somers Police Department, along with the NY State Police Department, will be out in force to make sure the local bars are not serving underage youth and that the roadways in the town will be safe. Drunk driving is a real problem on a night like this so if you plan on going out to party with friends (and are over 21) remember to have a designated driver.
"Each year drunk driving claims the lives of over twenty thousand people. I urge everyone to do their part to prevent this needless loss of life. We will be out in force, and those who violate the law will face a judge," said Chief Driscoll.
Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for our family, friends and health. Let's make sure that this Thanksgiving we do just that!
Happy Thanksgiving! Somers Partners in Prevention & Somers Police Department