Boozy brits spend a fortune... on booze

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Drunken spending costs Brits almost £1,600 a year, it was revealed yesterday.

On a typical night out a third of people withdraw an average of £35 from a cash point and put another £30.71 on their credit card - but remember nothing about it the following morning.

And with people treating themselves to two nights out a month that adds up to more than £131 a month or almost £1,584 a year.

Between the ages of 18 and 40, that means boozy Brits will forget about £34,893 during their lifetime.

For some that figure is even higher as six per cent admitted to a drunken online shopping spree after getting home from the pub, spending an average of £96.65 each time.

John Sewell, managing director of research site Onepoll.com, which carried out the poll, said: "Nights out aren't cheap anyway, especially when you end up spending money that you forget about once the alcohol has worn off."

Desperate measures

The poll of 3,000 Brits also revealed that while a third remember their drunken spending sometime the following day, a dopey 14 per cent only realise when they next check their bank balance.

Another nine per cent don't find out until their next statement drops onto the door mat.

One in five Brits have even contacted their bank to question a transaction they know nothing about - only to find out it was something they had just forgotten about on a night out.

But rather than admitting they actually spent the money after a trip to the pub, seven per cent of those have actually managed to convince their bank it was a mistake and have claimed the cash back.

Some Brits have got so worried about their drunken spending though that they now leave all their cards at home, and take just enough money to get them through the night.

Another five per cent of people give their cards to a friend and tell them to only give it to them in an emergency.

John Sewell, MD of Onepoll.com added: "Giving your credit and bank cards to someone you trust is a good idea if you struggle to keep tabs on your spending after a few drinks."