Special 'Drinksgiving' Enforcement Helps Keep The Night As Safe As Possible In Rye

RYE, NY — In recent years, the night before Thanksgiving has slowly earned the unofficial designation of the biggest drinking night of the year.

The night when hometown friends who are back for the holidays reconnect over a few cold ones, has earned a slightly more disturbing reputation lately. With nicknames like "Drinksgiving" and "Blackout Wednesday," the informal holiday has taken on a not-so-savory repute.

Unfortunately, the annual pre-Thanksgiving get-togethers have also become irresistible to many who are not yet legally allowed to drink.

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This year, the City of Rye Police Department conducted an underage drinking initiative in the downtown district. During the initiative, officers operating in a mix of marked and unmarked units canvassed the area for underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and other alcohol-related city code violations.

While the focus of the operating was underage drinking, police said that at points during the night, officers chose to shift from enforcement to safety, helping local businesses with crowd control.

During the 2025 Thanksgiving Eve detail, officers issued two NYS Alcohol Beverage Control violations, 21 Rye City Code violations, seven parking summonses, 20 traffic summonses, and five fraudulent driver's licenses were seized, according to police.