New research has been carried out that suggests that Brits would rather drink corked wine than send it back in an attempt to look more sophisticated. Research from the tem of behavioral science experts at Decision Technology has shown that a higher proportion of people claim that they send wine back than those that do so in reality. It is thought that this result comes from an attempt by Brits to get a social boost and demonstrate confidence and worldliness. However, it does mean that British people are drinking corked wine because of the social embarrassment of sending it back.
The Firm carried out a survey that found 18% of people said that they had sent wine back in a restaurant. After more research it was found that 2% of those saying they’ve sent wine back, actually had. Of the 18% that claimed to have sent wine back, 50% said that their reasoning was that they thought it was corked. The natural occurrence of corked wine is around 5%, this means that 3% of Brits are drinking corked wine in order to avoid the awkward experience of sending it back, despite their earlier boasts.
The research that has been carried out highlights the rather amusing stereotype of British people being polite even when face with faulty goods, and will even pay in order to avoid any kind of awkward and uncomfortable social interaction.
The behavioral science experts suggest that these results boil down to the fact that people are constantly carrying out a cost benefit analysis of their actions, whether they realise it or not. The Scientists suggests that that this is also the case when claiming to send the wine back and actually doing so. It is thought that people can see the benefit of claiming to send wine back, as it appears sophisticated and discerning and also suggests a high standard for the restaurants they go to. However, in reality the social cost of sending wine back is too great, with most people preferring to avoid behaving in a way that could be impolite to staff, or creating an awkward moment.
