MILLIONS of Brits woke today with a Mad Friday hangover – or worse – after the
biggest boozing night of the party season.
City bars and clubs were packed up and down the UK last night as 999 services
braced for mayhem.
The last Friday before Christmas has come to be known as Black Eye Friday
because there is usually a huge spike in fights, assaults and drunken
accidents.
Police were out in force across the country to keep order with many services
streched to breaking point.
A&E units and ambulance crews were expecting to be flooded with
booze-relating casualties as Britons
binged on more than twice as much alcohol as usual.
Alcohol sales were expected to be up a staggering 142 per cent on an average
Friday night.
In Cardiff, ambulamce chiefs set up a mobile A&E triage unit to deal with
dozens of walking wounded.
Millions of Brits hit pubs and bars last night – the most popular night for
office parties. Many workers clocked off early on their last day in the
office.
The last Friday before Christmas is also the peak day for illicit flings
between cheating partners before they go home to their families.
Cop chiefs yesterday urged festive revellers to drink responsibly.
Chief Superintendent Mike Leslie of Police Scotland said: “We want everyone to
have a great time this festive season and our message is simple: take care
and keep yourself safe.
“We will be out in force tonight in what has been dubbed Black Eye Friday
over the years.
“Let’s lose that name, be responsible and stay safe on what should be known as
Festive Friday. My officers are there to help keep you safe. Work with them
to achieve this by being responsible.
“Those who are out to spoil the party for others will not be tolerated and
will be dealt with with the full force of the law.”
Police also warned drivers not to getr behind the wheel if they may still be
over limit.
Last year on Black Eye Friday the London Ambulance Service was called to 32
alcohol-related incidents in just one hour and 731 casualties over the
weekend.
There was also a huge spike in demand for solicitors after revellers ended up
in police cells.
Law firm Stephensons revealed it saw a 125 per cent increase in demand on
Black Eye Friday last year.
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Criminal lawyer Sean Joyce said: “It is one of the busiest days of the
year for our solicitors and we experience a huge jump in enquiries as
Christmas party season reaches its peak.
“In the vast majority of cases, this phenomenon is directly attributable
to over indulgence, where increased alcohol consumption can cloud a person’s
judgement and cause them to act out of character.
“Many of those we are asked to represent are first-time offenders whose
behaviour gets out of hand and results in a night in the cells, or even a
criminal record.”
