[eye30]

 Britain braces itself for booze 'Black Friday'

Drinkers are being urged to take a holiday from alcohol after Christmas as the nation braces itself for its yearly Black Friday of booze today.

The Friday before Christmas is traditionally a day of revelling and last year saw a 114% rise of alcohol sales in pubs, bars and restaurants compared to an average Friday.

With emergency services expected to bear the brunt, public health officials today launch a print and online campaign encouraging people to make a dry January one of their New Year's resolutions.

Try a dry January, drinkers urged - BT