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5 Ways to Avoid Being a Thanksgiving DUI Turkey

By Brett Snider, Esq. on November 27, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Every year families and friends gather on Thanksgiving to gorge themselves on turkey and various carbohydrates (maybe an occasional Brussels sprout) and sometimes, consuming a good deal of alcohol. Each year the President also selects and pardons turkeys from their roasted or fried fates, but you can't count on a presidential pardon for if you're caught driving drunk on Thursday night.

Don't be a turkey, follow these five ways to avoid a Thanksgiving DUI:

1. Be Aware of DUI Checkpoints

Turkeys can't read webpages, so humans already have a leg (or a wing) up on the holiday bird when it comes to DUI checkpoints. New York law enforcement in particular is already hard at work setting up DWI checkpoints across the Empire State.

According to Brian Rosenberg, president of Restaurants Against Drunk Driving, "Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest night of the year" for partying, New York's WCBS reports, and law enforcement will be prepared to catch drunken "turkeys" at their drunk driving checkpoints.

2. Use Your Smartphone

Humans have great technological superiority over turkeys, so why not take advantage of it? There are legal DUI apps on the market which can help prevent you from tangling with law enforcement with a belly full of stuffing.

Breathalyzers now come in smartphone size, too. Using a pocket breathalyzer may keep you from getting on the road if you're too (cranberry) sauced.

3. Watch Your Medication

Regardless of the time of year, driving under the influence of prescription drugs can just as easily land you a DUI as a night of drinking. So if Thanksgiving stress has you gobbling Xanax like Pez, stay off the road.

4. Pick a Designated Driver

Nominating a designated driver ahead of time is a great way to destress about your alcohol consumption this Thanksgiving and focus instead on which elderly relatives will tell the most racist or insensitive jokes.

Like drunk and sober turkeys of a feather, make sure you and your DD stick together. And try to ensure your DD choice isn't someone who will secretly drink.

5. Get a Taxi or Tow

If you drove yourself to a Thanksgiving shindig but you don't have a ride home, call a taxi.

Spent all your dough on turkey fixin's? Check out AAA's Holiday Safe Ride Program, offering free towing for members and non-members in select areas nationwide.

Follow these tips and you can spend Thanksgiving eating turkey, not being one.

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