Stag and hen parties given safety advice
The Foreign Office has issued safety advice for stag and hen parties heading abroad this summer.
It comes as police patrols are being stepped up at Gatwick Airport to clamp down on drunk and rowdy behaviour.
The FCO said a survey suggests 43% of British nationals are more likely to drink abroad than on other occasions and 52% of respondents admitted to doing something they later regretted after drinking abroad.
The poll also found 16% had walked back to their resort or hotel alone or taken a dangerous shortcut, 11% had jumped into a pool while intoxicated, 6% of holidaymakers had tried to drive whilst drunk.
"Stag and hen parties can be great fun and a time for celebration, but travellers are more likely to take risks and get into trouble abroad if they have been drinking heavily," said Cara Fortune, from the FCO’s Travel Aware team.
"We encourage anyone having a stag and hen party overseas to follow our guidance for drinking responsibly, being aware of local laws, preparing properly for your trip and doing your research before you go away."
Elaine Hindal, chief executive of the alcohol education charity Drinkaware, added: "No one is telling people they can’t enjoy themselves when they’re partying abroad, but there are still limits, even when you’re drinking. When it comes to your behaviour ask yourself, would I do this if I was sober? You shouldn’t do it when you’re drunk.
"But vitally, if you find that you might have been drinking past your tipping point, there is a danger that you won’t be able to look after yourself and you will be at risk of harm, then make sure you stay with friends; look out for yourself and those around you."
Advice includes:
– Be prepared and fully research the destination, including local laws and customs
– Get comprehensive travel insurance to cover costs if things go wrong
– Check your passport is valid before you travel – otherwise you risk being left behind at the departure gate
– Drink responsibly
– Use the FCO’s Twitter service @FCOtravel; Facebook or visit www.gov.uk/travelaware to keep up to date on travel advice
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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