Britons spend half as long at lunch as Italians, study finds
MAMMA MIA! BRITS EAT LUNCH IN HALF THE TIME OF ITALIANS
Study reveals the average Brit polishes off lunch in just 25 minutes unlike our more laid-back Mediterranean neighbours
New research has surveyed both Brits and Italians and found that, in classic British style, we tend to tear through meals at lightning speed, often barely pausing to appreciate what’s on our plates. A third (33%) admit they’re fast eaters, while a quarter (25%) say they regularly wolf down food, and 23% see meals simply as fuel before moving on to the next task.
The new international study, commissioned by Italian Alpine beer brand Menabrea, found a stark cultural divide across Europe, with Italian diners far more likely to treat meals as a social ritual, lingering over food, chatting with friends and family, and enjoying the experience at a leisurely pace.
In Britain, however, mealtimes are often squeezed between tasks and distractions. More than half of Brits (53%) eat lunch at their desk, and nearly one in five (19%) admit to juggling meals with work emails.
That same pace carries into the evening. Dinner, traditionally a moment to unwind, is often just another background activity – with almost nine in ten Brits (87%) eating in front of the TV around five nights a week. By contrast, this is a rarity in Italy, where almost half (45%) say they never eat dinner in front of the TV, and just 4% do so regularly. Instead, Italian diners are far more likely to treat meals as a shared, social occasion – lingering at the table, talking, and fully immersed.
Eleanor Quigley, Brand Manager for Menabrea, said: “Food and drink should be about far more than simply fueling the day, they should be a chance to pause, connect with others and properly savour the moment.”
When asked what gets in the way of slowing down, cost (28%) and lack of time (27%) top the list, followed by distractions (19%). Some admit they get bored easily or feel they have better things to do (both 12%). Brits even admit to checking their phones an average of 13 times during dinner, reinforcing just how fragmented meals have become.
This sense of distracted dining and rushing extends beyond food. More than a third (36%) say they’ve hurried family meals due to time pressures, while social moments like drinks with friends (31%) and lunches with mates (29%) are often cut short. Even time for themselves isn’t immune, with 34% rushing exercise – and one in six (14%) admitting they’ve even ended dates early because they had somewhere else to be.
Experts suggest Britain’s breakneck approach to dining may be rooted in the nation’s long-standing tea culture, where quick brews and light bites have long punctuated the day, from a builders’ tea with a quick sandwich to a speedy cuppa squeezed in between meetings.
Layer on the legacy of the Industrial Revolution, when factory workers had little time to eat between grueling shifts, and it’s easy to see how a culture of rushed mealtimes became ingrained in British life.
In Italy, however, the attitude is markedly different. An overwhelming 88% believe a good meal should never be rushed, and many routinely spend at least an hour at the table for lunch. It’s a slower, more intentional way of eating that places connection and enjoyment at its heart.
Despite the contrast, there’s a clear appetite for change in the UK. Nine in ten Brits (90%) say they would love to adopt a more European approach to dining, although 16% admit they struggle to properly switch off and relax at mealtimes.
Eleanor continues: “Our research highlights a clear cultural contrast between Britain and Italy, with Italians far more likely to treat dining as an experience to be enjoyed, rather than something to rush through. By exploring that divide, we wanted to champion a more mindful, more sociable way of eating and drinking, and to remind people that a premium beer like Menabrea is worth taking time over.”