It's the Friday before Christmas; alcohol consumption to double

Tonight - the Friday before Christmas - is the biggest drinking night of the year.

Consumption of alcohol will rise 114% tonight, compared with an average Friday.

Irish people drank 38 million litres of pure alcohol last year, with beer most popular alcoholic drink, followed by wine, spirits and cider in order.

The average person drank more than 10 litres of pure alcohol last year.

Public health officials are urging people to have a dry January to make up for the excess of the Christmas season.