Johnson vows to stop drinking until Brexit

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims he has given up drinking until after Brexit is sorted.

Johnson's apparent "do or dry" pledge follows his failure to keep his "do or die" promise to deliver Britain's withdrawal from the European Union by October 31.

He was seen sipping whisky during a distillery visit in Scotland on Thursday, casting doubt on his commitment to the alcohol ban.

He revealed the pledge while chatting about health matters with nurses at a hospital in the English county of Nottinghamshire on Friday.

Johnson discussed smoking trends in the district before moving to the topic of alcohol.

"I've had to give it up until we get Brexit done," he said.

The prime minister did not clarify whether he meant the first phase of Brexit by the end of January 2020 or the end of the transition period in December next year - or what would happen if the UK remained in the EU.

Johnson has called a snap December 12 election in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock after British MPs rejected the deal he agreed with the EU last month.

He hopes to win a big enough majority in parliament to get the deal ratified and lead Britain out of the EU in January.