Halloween Drinking Statistics In The U.S.

Many people love to break out extravagant costumes, treats, and decorations when Halloween rolls around. Many also enjoy indulging in alcoholic drinks during this time. 

While enjoying a couple of cocktails may be somewhat safe for some, there are some alarming Halloween drinking statistics to consider when celebrating the holiday. 

Like any drug use, abusing alcohol can lead to poor decision-making. Below are some Halloween drinking statistics and alternative ways to celebrate Halloween. 

Alarming Halloween Drinking Statistics

Drinking plays a big part in Halloween festivities for some people, but when it’s overdone, the results can be tragic. 

Statistics show increases in binge drinking and drunk driving on Halloween. Both of these can result in life-threatening consequences. 

Drinking And Driving Statistics

New Year’s Eve is typically when most drunk driving occurs, but Halloween also shares a long history of impaired driving. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has tracked drinking and driving statistics for holidays for several years. 

The NHTSA reports that on Halloween:

• 92 alcohol-related deaths occurred in 2015
• 26 alcohol-related deaths occurred in 2016
• 25 alcohol-related deaths occurred in 2017
• 27 alcohol-related deaths occurred in 2018

Drunk driving occurs more often when holidays fall on either Friday or Saturday. Halloween falls on a Monday this year, which usually means fewer parties because it is a school and work night. 

However, some people may choose to celebrate the holiday early over the weekend this year to make way for their regular festivities.

Even if a person drinks “responsibly,” any amount of drinking can impair your ability to drive, whether or not you drink to excess. 

It’s always best to designate someone as a sober driver for the night. Later we’ll review more ways to prevent drunk driving. 

Binge-Drinking Statistics

Most people don’t drink every day or don’t drink very often. However, during the holidays, some people drink more than they usually would. 

Some engage in binge drinking, which the U.S. Department of Health defines as drinking five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women in two hours or less. 

Binge drinking can significantly increase the chances of reckless behavior, including drinking and driving, accidents, polysubstance abuse, or unprotected sex. 

It can also lead to “blacking out” or “browning out.” This refers to when alcohol temporarily stops a part of the brain from making memories. 

People who black or brown out usually forget periods of time when they were drinking. However, their body is still active. In 2017, 9.3% of men reported blacking out on Halloween, as did 6.6% of women.

How To Stop Someone From Drinking And Driving

Oftentimes, people who’ve had a couple of drinks believe they are sober enough to drive home. But even one or two drinks can affect your driving ability. 

Some become persuasive or forceful when intoxicated, and no amount of convincing them not to drive will work. But there are ways to stop someone from drinking and driving. 

Here are some ways to prevent someone from drinking and driving:

• Take their car keys away. 
• If you haven’t been drinking, offer to drive them home. 
• Call them a ride from a driving service, such as Uber or Lyft.
• Have more than one person try to convince them not to drive. 
• If the party is at your home, invite them to stay the night.
• The last resort would be to call the police. This may seem drastic, but people’s lives could be at stake. 

Alternatives To Drinking On Halloween

Drinking on Halloween may be how many people celebrate the holiday, but there are plenty of fun activities that don’t involve substance abuse. 

People who are joining the Sober October national trend or otherwise trying to limit their drinking can choose from several drug-free activities. 

Some alternatives to drinking on Halloween include:

• throwing a costume party 
• making Halloween-inspired snacks, treats, or mocktails
• handing out candy to trick-or-treaters
• decorating your living space 
• binge-watching Halloween movies 
• visiting a pumpkin patch 
• carving cool designs into pumpkins 
• volunteering at food banks or haunted houses

Halloween is a time to make memories with friends and family. When drinking is limited or cut out, you’re better able to participate in the fun. 

Staying clear-headed also lowers the chances of getting into a drunk-driving incident or blacking out. You’re also more available to help others. 

Addiction Treatment In Massachusetts

The holidays don’t have to lead to overindulgence in substances. If you or someone you love is living with substance abuse, Ark Behavioral Health offers many levels of addiction treatment. 

Our inpatient programs, outpatient services, and aftercare services involve professional addiction therapy that paves the way to and supports a drug-free life. 

Reach out to our recovery specialists today to learn more.