Christmas revellers enjoy a drunken night on the tiles as party season gets into full swing… but some of them may have found themselves on Santa’s naughty list this morning
- Revellers seen letting their hair down in cities across the UK for what has now been dubbed ‘Thirsty Thursday’
- Some had one too many tipples as they were seen vomiting and urinating in doorways and led away by police
- NHS has earmarked £300,000 to fund ‘drunk tanks’ in a bid to ease the pressure on hospitals over Christmas
Festive revellers came out in force yesterday evening as the nights count down closer to Christmas.
People were out in force yesterday evening for what has now been dubbed ‘Thirsty Thursday’, which, along with ‘Mad Friday’, heralds the end of the working year for many and the start of Christmas.
As partygoers let loose in cities across the UK, some appeared to have had one too many tipples as they were spotted vomiting and urinating in doorways and being led away in police vans.
This comes as the NHS has earmarked some £300,000 to fund ‘drunk tanks’ in a bid to ease the pressure on hospitals and emergency services over the festive period.
The supervised areas are to give drinkers who have had a few too many a safe space where they can be checked over and sleep off the booze instead of clogging up A&E departments.
This man had to be coaxed down by a friend and led to an awaiting car after police calmed him down in Birmingham
This chap clearly had a bit too much drink to handle and resorted to sitting in a doorway and throwing up the contents of his stomach
Friends gave one another piggybacks as they made their way home after a long night of partying
Mr and Mrs Clause: A woman dressed up for the occasion in Leeds (left) while a man donned his Father Christmas costume and beard in Birmingham
One man in Birmingham, which was teaming with festive drinkers, was led away by police after his night out
Figures show 12% to 15% of all attendances to emergency departments are alcohol related, but this can spike to up to 70% on Friday and Saturday evenings.
This Friday, the last before Christmas, is dubbed ‘Mad Friday’ as workers across the country celebrate the start of the Christmas break, often with heavy drinking.
NHS England will use the money to fund dozens of the services across the country including one in London’s Soho.
The Soho Angels scheme is a partnership between Westminster City Council and the LGBT Foundation, and will be one of the first to benefit from NHS money.
The drunk tanks, officially called Alcohol Intoxication Management Services (Aims), are already used in some areas year-round including Exeter, Hereford, Norwich and Blackpool.
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NHS chief executive Simon Stevens repeated his message that NHS ‘does not stand for National Hangover Service’.
‘I have seen first-hand while out with ambulance crews in the run-up to last Christmas the problems that drunk and often aggressive people cause paramedics and A&E staff who just want to help those who need it most,’ he said.
‘We want to help other organisations take care of those who just need somewhere safe to get checked over and perhaps sleep it off.’
He said he wanted to see councils make wider use of the ‘late night levy’ they can impose on bars and clubs to set aside safe spaces for revellers.
The funding announcement comes as the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) prepare to publish their findings into Aims – NHS England will then decide whether these services are supported throughout the year.
Some continued their drinking in the streets, including these young women who strolled along clutching a bottle of wine
A man dressed an Oktoberfest costume found strength to give a piggyback to two of his friends on Broad Street in Birmingham
Typically many people go out on what has become known as Mad Friday but more people are now opting for the night before instead, now coined ‘Thirsty Thursday.’ Pictured, revellers in Leeds
People donned their best sequins, party gear and antlers to enjoy a night out on the town ahead of Christmas
Hundreds of people out in Leeds made their way to clubs and pubs wearing Father Christmas costumes
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