Boozy consumers `don`t buy drinks to avoid debt`

Almost two-thirds of Brits use debt management techniques when buying drinks on a night out with friends, a new survey has suggested.

Research by Abbey has found that five per cent of drinkers do not buy a round of beverages all night, in order to keep their spending under control.

Around a quarter of people buy the first round so that they can maximise the returns as the night goes on, while ten per cent wait until mid-way through the evening to avoid buying drinks for those who have left early.

Steve Shore, head of banking at Abbey, said: "The festive period is an expensive time of the year without having to pick up the tab for other people.

"We would advise festive partygoers to plan and stick to a budget, try to avoid being the person who puts their card behind the bar and avoid being the last to leave."

Recent research by PayPal found that 65 per cent of Brits count wines and spirits as their most essential purchases this Christmas.