WITH just five days to go until Christmas Day, the festive spirit has really started to ramp up.
Last night, pubs and bars across the UK were filled with work Christmas parties and friends’ gatherings for the booziest day of the year – branded “Mad Friday”.
Festive knitwear and sparkles were in full swing as revellers hit the town.
Despite the chilly weather, many chose to ditch the coats so not to distract from their incredible outfits.
Extra security and police officers were deployed to monitor the tinsel-tasting revellers and ensure that the parties stayed peaceful.
Cambridgeshire Police, for example, deployed an extra 70 PCs and said it would be cracking down on drink driving not just last night but across the festive period.
Police forces regularly report that Mad Friday is one of the busiest nights of the year for calls, arrests and responses due to heavy drinking and party-related disorder.
South Yorkshire Police recorded more than 2,300 calls in one Mad Friday period back in 2019 — about 1,493 on 101 and 810 on 999 — and officers attended over 400 incidents across the force area.
Mad Friday is also known as Builders’ Friday, as it’s the last day of work for many construction workers – as well as Black Eye Friday.
The night marking the start of the festive period has seen more widespread popularity in recent years – and has its roots in northern culture, but has spread thanks to social media.
The surge in punters will also have provided some relief for the ailing high streets.
It comes amid calls for low business rates, slashing energy bills and reducing corporation tax to be implemented to help small businesses.
Some 77% of adults agree small businesses deserve more support from government and local authorities.
A poll of 2,000 adults found reducing red tape (41%), simplifying the tax code (35%) and lowering National Insurance contributions (34%) are other ways people think would help small businesses and their high streets.
Almost half (46%) of those polled feel small businesses deserve additional funding – and 88% think they’re important to a vibrant local community.
The research, which comes against the backdrop of last month’s Budget, found overwhelming support for small businesses at a time of economic uncertainty when they are facing multiple financial pressures.
A handful of measures in the Budget offered some respite for small businesses, such as permanently lowering business rates for smaller properties in retail, hospitality and leisure.
However, the 2% increase in dividend tax will impact many small business owners who pay themselves through dividends.
