Well over half of Brits are shunning the pub to watch the World Cup at home with friends and family this year (57%), according to a new study.
The survey of 2,000 people, commissioned by The Ice Co found nearly half of Brits (45%) think the pub is too “laddy”, with a similar number (43%) saying they'd rather watch it in a more civilised environment.
When it comes to the ideal drinks to serve at a World Cup viewing party, beer comes out on top. The top 10 drinks are:
- Ice cold beer (47%)
- Soft drinks with ice (35%)
- Cider in chilled bottles (25%)
- Prosecco (24%)
- Cocktails (23%)
- Extra chilled wine (22%)
- Gin and tonic (16%)
- Red wine (11%)
- Baileys on ice (9%)
- Whisky on the rocks (6%)
So, what makes the perfect World Cup viewing party at home? The study shows having plenty of snacks in the house (52%), having lots of cold drinks in an ice box or bucket (43%), making sure everyone has a seat (37%) and stocking up on ice for drinks (33%) are the most important factors.
The Ice Co's findings have been included in a new report by food and drink futurologist Lyndon Gee, called World Cup 2018: We'll be playing at home, not away! In the report, Lyndon has also created World Cup drinking personalities, including the Penalty Taker who loves drinking games and the Referee, who tried to organise everyone and make sure all glasses are filled equally.
Lyndon Gee, commented: “There's lots of research out there, which I've cited in my report, to show that staying in is the new going out. The rise of trends such as hygge and lagom have helped fuel all of this, with many of us preferring the comfort and cosiness of our own homes than being in a busy bar or pub. This year's World Cup is no exception, with the survey from The Ice Co clearly showing a large proportion of Brits are shunning the pub, with many people saying the environment is too “laddy” and that they would rather celebrate in a more civilised way with friends and family.
“Ice cold beer is still the most popular alcoholic drink but low and no-alcohol varieties are gaining a lot of traction. Soft drinks are no longer an afterthought for summer parties, and this is evident with the growing trend for adult soft drinks. Cocktails and mocktails are also bang on trend this summer, so we'll see many people serving these at their World Cup viewing parties.”
When it comes to the ideal number of people Brits want to invite round to their World Cup party, the study shows five or six close friends and family members is the “sweet spot”.
Ginny Durdy, marketing manager at The Ice Co, which commissioned the research, said: “Our study showed two-fifths of people (22%) hate queueing for drinks at the pub. So, one of wonderful things about hosting a World Cup party at home, is you don't have to do this! There's nothing quite like getting your friends and family round to your house for a World Cup viewing party and serving them cold soft drinks, wine and beer all day long straight from a box or bucket filled with Party Ice. It's also worth stocking up on Super Cubes or slow melting Premium Ice cubes, which are a brilliant way to keep drinks like gin and tonic, cocktails and mocktails cold while you're watching the game.”
