Pandemic changes habits – no more sharing drinks or snogging strangers
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One-quarter of adults won’t reach into someone else’s crisp bag for a handful and a third will no longer sneak a bite out of another’s sandwich. Using make-up samples in a store, borrowing someone else’s lip balm and standing close to someone in a queue are also things Brits will avoid. While 25 percent can’t see themselves surrounded by others in a busy pub again even after all restrictions are lifted. And 21 percent intend to avoid buffet-style restaurants at all costs.
Rebecca Strauss, from Vision Direct, which commissioned the research, said: “Habits such as carrying hand sanitizer everywhere, working from home when we have a cold, and washing our hands any time we touch our faces or eyes are positive habits we can continue to practice after the pandemic.
“We have always stressed the importance of good hygiene and handwashing in regards to eye health.
“But the pandemic has really opened our eyes to how these habits should be carried into other aspects of our lives.”
Researchers found one-fifth of adults have no intention of using office cutlery in the future – assuming they return to the workplace eventually.
Similarly, the same percentage won’t use mugs or glasses in the office, and one in 10 will steer clear of the office tea round, ‘just in case’.
It also emerged people are warier of others than ever before, with 19 percent saying they won’t chat to someone in close proximity in a club, a fifth won’t shake someone’s hand and 18 percent will avoid sitting next to others on public transport.
Four in 10 adults polled via OnePoll said that going forward, they will be comfortable refusing a hug from someone, if they felt it inappropriate.
These findings are despite one-third of adults claiming they are usually tactile, touchy-feely people.
And Brits are agreed it will take an average of 12 months following lockdown lifting, and the vaccine being rolled out to all adults before life will start to feel anything like ‘normal’ again.
On the back of the findings, the eye care specialists have launched a quiz for Brits to determine if they are already experts at social distancing, or if there is more work to be done.
Vision Direct spokeswoman Rebecca Strauss added: “There are no two ways about it, our lives have changed forever.
“To be honest, there were some things that weren’t a good idea pre-pandemic – such as sharing make-up, borrowing specs, and taking a bite out of someone else’s sandwich.
“But there are also things that were safe and continue to be safe through it all – wearing contact lenses (especially daily lenses), exercising outdoors and visiting the grocery store while wearing a mask.
“Hopefully if we have learned anything through all this, it is to be mindful of our own personal space and hygiene habits.”
TOP 20 THINGS BRITONS WON’T DO AFTER LOCKDOWN
1. Use someone else’s lip balm
2. Sneak a bite of someone else’s sandwich
3. Use store make-up samples
4. Snog a stranger on a night out
5. Borrow a swimming costume from someone else
6. Use someone else’s make up
7. Stand close to people at the bar or in a queue
8. Leave the house without hand sanitiser
9. Share a pack of crisps in a pub
10. Use someone else’s deodorant
11. Get someone to check if your breath smells
12. Go to a buffet-style restaurant
13. Hold the handrail on an escalator
14. Hold onto public transport e.g. the bus/tube handles/pole
15. Shake someone’s hand
16. Borrow gloves from someone else
17. Drink from mugs/glasses in work
18. Chat in close proximity to someone in a club
19. Sit next to someone on public transport
20. Use office cutlery
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