London Ambulance Service is urging people to celebrate the long weekend responsibly after alcohol-related emergencies rose sharply during last year’s August bank holiday.
Figures from the Service shows that ambulance crews attended 73 percent more alcohol-related incidents on the August bank holiday Monday alone in 2025 compared to the previous Monday.*
Across the entire weekend between Saturday 23rd and Monday 25th August last year ambulance crews attended 467 alcohol related incidents, compared to 340 incidents the previous weekend (Saturday 16th August – Monday 18 August) – an increase of nearly 40 percent.
The weekend in the capital will also see this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, which is marking its 60th anniversary and is expected to attract up to two million visitors across the bank holiday weekend, making it the largest street festival in Europe.
London Ambulance Service is reminding carnival-goers to plan ahead, stay hydrated, drink responsibly and look after friends and family while enjoying the celebrations.
Alison Blakely, Gold Commander and Deputy Chief Paramedic at London Ambulance Service, said:
“Notting Hill Carnival is one of London’s most vibrant and iconic events, and we want everyone attending to enjoy it safely.
“With millions of people expected to visit west London over the weekend, our crews will be working hard across the Carnival footprint and throughout the capital to respond to those who need us.
“Last year we saw a significant rise in alcohol-related incidents over the bank holiday weekend and all of these are avoidable. They take up an ambulance crew from someone else who may need help. So if you’re planning to drink, please do so responsibly.
“Make sure you’ve eaten beforehand, stay hydrated by drinking water regularly and keep an eye on the people you’re with.
“If someone becomes seriously unwell, call 999 immediately and provide as much information as possible, including your location. The better information our call handlers receive, the faster they can get the right help to where it’s needed.
“Our teams are always here when people need us, but we ask Londoners to use 999 wisely for those facing life-threatening situations. For less urgent health concerns, please consider contacting NHS 111, your GP or a local pharmacy.”
To help keep carnival-goers safe, London Ambulance Service will have additional staff on duty at the event.
Most will be frontline clinicians deployed on foot or bicycle to reach patients quickly in crowded areas. Critical care teams, ambulance crews, operational commanders and specialist support staff will also be working throughout the weekend.
Teams will also be staffing the Service’s Specialist Operations Centre, joint medical control facilities and fixed treatment centres jointly staffed by St John Ambulance and London Ambulance Service.
The treatment centres will be based at the following locations:
- St Thomas Church Hall, 222 Kensal Road, W10 5BN (view What 3 Words location)
- Blue Pitch, Golborne Gardens, W10 5DZ (view What 3 Words location)
- St Charles Place @ St Charles Square, W19 6EF (view What 3 Words location)
- St Marks Place, London, W11 1NT (view What 3 Words location)
- St Peters Church, Kensington Park Road, W11 2PN (view What 3 Words location)
- Westbourne Park Bus Garage, Great Western Road, W9 3NW (view What 3 Words location)
- St Stephen’s Gardens, W2 6QU (view What 3 Words location)
People are also reminded that some local pharmacies may operate different opening hours over the bank holiday weekend. Anyone needing advice or medication can use the NHS pharmacy finder to check which pharmacies are open nearby.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Ambulance crews attended 467 alcohol-related incidents over the August Bank Holiday weekend (23-25 August 2025), compared with 340 incidents during the previous weekend (16-18 August), an increase of 127 incidents (37.4%).
- Monday 25 August (Bank Holiday Monday) saw 161 alcohol-related incidents, compared with 93 incidents on the previous Monday, an increase of 68 incidents (73.1%).
- Sunday 24 August recorded 171 alcohol-related incidents, compared with 121 on the previous Sunday, an increase of 50 incidents (41.3%).
- Saturday 23 August recorded 135 alcohol-related incidents, compared with 126 on the previous Saturday, an increase of 9 incidents (7.1%).