{"id":7521,"date":"2023-11-28T09:42:32","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T09:42:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/?post_type=newsrooms&p=7521"},"modified":"2024-07-23T15:53:59","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T15:53:59","slug":"festive-fibs-brits-reveal-the-most-bizarre-excuses-used-to-escape-a-social-obligation-this-christmas","status":"publish","type":"newsrooms","link":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/en\/corporate-markets\/united-kingdom\/festive-fibs-brits-reveal-the-most-bizarre-excuses-used-to-escape-a-social-obligation-this-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Festive fibs! Brits reveal the most bizarre excuses used to escape a social obligation this Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

28 November 2023<\/span><\/b> \u2013 With the festive season in full swing, social gatherings are plenty, but it’s not all joy and merriment, new research from SIXT UK reveals. Almost 2 in 5 (38%) Brits feel obligated to attend Christmas get-togethers, even if they would rather not go. And those who make their early exit have revealed the most questionable excuses used \u2013 and \u2018I need to wash my hair, \u2018my home is flooded\u2019 and \u2018I need to clean my granny\u2019s gutters\u2019 are <\/span>among the worst fibs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Turns out, socialising during the festive season is not always the most wonderful time of the year, as a quarter (23%) reveal they are more likely to find an excuse to leave a party early over the Christmas period than any other time. Despite the love of Christmas music (38%), festive-themed food and drink (48%) and that everyone is up for a jolly good time (52%), some partygoers find the crowds (58%), high prices (48%) and the fact it\u2019s simply exhausting (49%) reasons to flee.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While some craft creative excuses, others leave early without even saying goodbye. Those aged 18 \u2013 24 years old (35%) are the top culprits wheon it comes to leaving a Christmas bash without telling anyone, otherwise known as a \u2018French exit\u2019. But if you\u2019re over 65 years old (14%), you\u2019re not a fan of secretly sneaking away.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to the occasion, Christmas work parties are the most common gathering to find an excuse to get out of (44%), with 16 % admitting they\u2019d prefer not to socialise with their colleagues but do it for the free food and drinks. Neighbourhood get-togethers (20%) are next on the list, while a guilty 17% would even make excuses for a gathering with relatives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For some more organised than others, almost two in five (39%) have lined up an excuse in advance to aid their getaway from a gathering they don\u2019t want to be at, such as asking someone to ring them during the event or mentioning they\u2019re unwell in the lead-up. 30% of Brits would be satisfied with only attending three to four gatherings this December, but don\u2019t count on them sticking it out to the end as 35% admit they will leave early from half of them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Managing Director of SIXT UK, Andrew Smith, commented:<\/span><\/b> “<\/span>We\u2019ve all been there \u2013 stuck at a social gathering when we\u2019d rather be at <\/span><\/i>home in front of the TV. Even if it is the most wonderful time of the year, there are some obligations that leave us scrambling for an escape. The funny, bizarre and downright brilliant excuses used to flee a festive function have now been revealed. And if you\u2019re in need of a quick getaway this year we have all your mobility needs covered.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/span>“If you\u2019re planning to leave early from a Christmas party, we understand. And a<\/span><\/i> quick escape from any situation couldn\u2019t be easier than with the SIXT app, offering a premium fleet and thousands of branches across the country, whether it\u2019s car rental, car sharing, ride-hailing, e-scooters and car subscriptions.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, SIXT opened the doors to three brand new branches in London\u2019s Canary Wharf, Heathrow Terminal 2 and Nottingham, reopened its Hammersmith location, and with <\/span>even more branches set for 2024, drivers will have the freedom and flexibility to always be on the move when they need to.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The top 15 excuses used to flee a festive function:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I\u2019ve got an early start tomorrow<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. I\u2019ve got work tomorrow<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. I had a late night last night<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. I\u2019ve got a tummy ache \/ having \u2018toilet troubles\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. I have a family emergency<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. I\u2019ve double booked myself and realised I\u2019m supposed to be somewhere else<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. I want to beat the traffic<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. I don\u2019t want to spend money on the food and drink<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. I\u2019ve got a work emergency<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. The babysitter needs me to come home<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. My elderly parent can\u2019t be left for long alone<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. My pet is unwell<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. My mobile phone is about to run out of battery<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  14. There is a programme on TV I want to watch<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  15. My partner\/housemate is locked out of the house<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    SIXT is on the hunt to find the best (or worst) fibs the nation has made to get out of a social obligation at Christmas. Fibbers can share their excuses via\u202f<\/span>sixtfestivegetaway@smarts.agency<\/span><\/a> or SIXT\u2019s social channels to win the ultimate \u2018getaway\u2019: SIXT will arrange a microlight experience to be the winner’s excuse to get away from a social obligation between March and May 2024.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    For more information about SIXT\u2019s products, services, and availability, visit the website here:\u202f<\/span>https:\/\/www.sixt.co.uk<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-7521","newsrooms","type-newsrooms","status-publish","hentry","newsroom-country-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newsrooms\/7521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newsrooms"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/newsrooms"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/about.sixt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}