Thanksgiving Eve: A busy night for bars and DWI arrests
SAN ANTONIO - Bar owners and staff said the night before Thanksgiving Day is one of the busiest in the industry. Law enforcement also said it’s also one of the busiest nights for DWI arrests.
“Thanksgiving eve is normally considered to be the busiest holiday for us so the busiest night for bar season,” said Braunda Smith, Owner of Lucy Cooper’s Texas Icehouse
Smith said the night before Thanksgiving Day draws a huge crowd because people are in town visiting family and want to have a good time.
“We want you to come here, have a good time, but we want you to go home, make it home so you can come back and have a good time with us,” said Smith.
Smith said her bartenders have been instructed to keep an eye on how long customers have been there and what they’ve had to drink.
Taking it one step further, Smith said her entire staff, including the kitchen employees, are TABC certified to make sure no one is getting intoxicated.
“Heading home, we were almost home, and out of nowhere, we got hit head-on by a wrong-way drunk driver. Tragically my wife passed away,” said John Cano, who lost his wife to a drunk driver.
That’s what happened to Cano, who lost his wife to a wrong-way drunk driver in 2015. He said before anyone gets behind the wheel, they need to realize they are putting lives in danger.
“I was in intensive care for three days and then after I came out of my coma, that’s when I was notified my wife passed away,” said Cano.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said if people do plan on going drinking, they need to make sure they are not getting behind the wheel.
“Well anytime that you have a big night for bars, it’s also a bug night for DWIs unfortunately,” said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
Sherif Salazar said there will be an increase in deputies on patrol, specifically looking for drunk drivers. He said to avoid a night in jail, the best thing anyone can do is plan ahead.
“You may not be able to make that sound decision later in the night, one drink in, six drinks in, whatever it may be. Make that plan ahead of time, a designated driver, plan to stay at someone’s house, take an Uber, take a bus, we don’t care, just don’t drive your car,” said Sheriff Salazar.
