Brits ban home parties

20th December 2005 As Christmas looms large on the horizon, this year's party season looks set to be a damp squib according to new research from Lloyds TSB Insurance. The sobering survey findings reveal that four out of five Brits will follow in Scrooge's footsteps this year by banning parties from their own homes. Runaway costs emerge as the number one reason for staying home alone, with over a quarter of cash strapped Brits (26.4 per cent) citing the expense of hosting a party as a major turn-off. However, almost one in five house proud homeowners (14.7 per cent) cite the risk of damage to their property as the reason for locking their doors and saying bah humbug to a party at home. Interestingly, anxious male respondents lose more sleep over the prospect of Christmas domestic carnage than woman (16.2 per cent v 14 per cent) and even the traditional party heavyweights, the 16-24 year olds, claim to be too concerned about damaging their homes to risk throwing a party.