Getting drunk abroad is a British characteristic
Over a quarter of us think that getting drunk abroad is a British characteristic. Thankfully, it’s not the nation’s top trait. That accolade goes to a more sedate form of drinking, namely our love of tea.
Six in 10 adults opted for tea drinking when asked by pollsters to pick a characteristic that defined Britishness. The next most popular choice was our obsession with talking about the weather.
Almost half of those questioned said being good at queueing was the characteristic they most associated with being British. Next came speaking only English when abroad, followed by keeping a stiff upper lip and support for the Royal Family. Watching TV soaps and loving karaoke were also considered distinctly British, the survey by Opinium Research found.
If these all seem a little trivial, you’ll be heartened to see that hard work also made it into the top 10 traits associated with being British. Unfortunately, less than a third of those polled mentioned it. Next came speaking only English when abroad.
Less than half of those living in England knew it was St George’s Day today, even though 61 per cent described themselves as English rather than British.
In contrast, everyone surveyed in Northern Ireland knew that St Patrick’s Day was on March 17. And 80 per cent of people in Wales knew March 1 was St David’s Day. James Endersby, of Opinium Research, said: “Our research has revealed that it’s hard to pin down what it means to be British.
“With several stereotypical attributes making the list as well as wider personality traits, it goes to show that Britishness is a complex mix of characteristics.
“It is also interesting that the majority of people feel more patriotic for their country than of being British, calling into question what it means to be part of Britain.” The survey revealed that one‑in-five adults would like an extra bank holiday to celebrate being British.
Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/242391/Drunk-tourists-how-very-BritishDrunk-tourists-how-very-British#ixz
