Pull the Plug on your date - tell them you forgot to turn off your hair straighteners

02 March 2016

3/03/2016

One in three women1 admit they would fib to get out of a bad date according to research undertaken by Electrical Safety First. The survey, which focussed on the dating, beauty and grooming habits of men and women in the UK, found that men and women have some very different views on turn offs in a date. One in four men2 said that they would ditch their date if they weren’t as attractive as expected; while one in five women3 would ditch their date if they suggested splitting the bill. With this in mind, the Charity is urging people to use the line “I think I left my straighteners on” to pull the plug on a dodgy date.

Hair straighteners and curling wands have long been accused of sizzling hair, but this latest campaign from Electrical Safety First highlights that they are a major cause of dangerous burns and house fires. The Charity’s research shows that an estimated 650,0004 house fires in the UK have been caused by a straightener or similar device being left on. So, whether it’s getting ready for a big date or just a trip to the shops, the message is to make sure to switch off your straighteners after using them.

Looking at occasions where people would need to use this excuse, a whopping 72% of people5 said that they would want to pull the plug on their date if they were rude to restaurant staff. Others major turn offs included swearing, talking about an ex and getting drunk6.

Fred Sirieix, General Manager Galvin at Windows, art of service expert and TV celebrity commented on the findings:

“This survey confirms what I have always known about people from observing guests as they eat in my restaurants for the last 25 years. It is nice to be nice and fundamentally everyone likes to be surrounded with good people who are in turn good to others. It is no surprise that 72% of people5 said that they would want to pull the plug on their date if they were rude to restaurant staff.

When on a date it is best to meet for one drink, that way if it goes well you can suggest staying longer. If it doesn’t, just say that you might have left your straighteners on. It could set your house on fire so it’s unlikely that your date will complain or convince you to stay! It is good too to see that more and more people are happy with the idea of splitting the bill - it’s 2016! It’s an equal world out there!”

When it comes to getting ready to go out, Electrical Safety First found that many of us are taking big risks preparing for a date. More than one in twelve women7 admit to having left their hair straighteners switched on at least once and almost half of women8 have panicked about leaving an electrical beauty device switched on when they’re out and about.

Electrical Safety First research has found that people aged between 18 and 24 are particularly at risk. One in three people9 in this age group has been burnt by an electrical beauty appliance. The research also shows that over 200,000 people10 in this age-group have experienced a house fire caused by an electrical beauty appliance.

Emma Apter, Head of Communications at Electrical Safety First commented:

“Straighteners can reach temperatures of over 235° and can take up to 40 minutes to cool down so there’s a real risk of fire or damage if you leave them on. Having the line “I think I left my straighteners on” as a quick getaway from a dodgy date will stick in your mind as you get ready and remind you to switch electrical products off before leaving the house.

“Many of us are familiar with the panicked feeling of wondering whether or not we’ve left our straighteners on and it’s really not worth taking the risk. If you think you might have left your straighteners turned on while on a date, rush home to switch them off. If you feel like ditching your date, it still works as a handy excuse!”

Share your dodgy dating stories using the hashtag #PullThePlug

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Christina Copp e: Christina.copp@electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk t: 020 3463 5129 m: 078 6670 2069

Men v Women: Seven Dating Stats

Quick to Ditch: One in eight women11 have ditched someone during a date while only one in ten men have done this

First Impressions: 28% of men12 will know if they’re interested in a date in five minutes or less, while only 21% of women13 say they would know within this time period.

Bad Manners: Being rude to restaurant staff was the biggest reason for pulling the plug on a date for both men and women. Four out of five women14 would ditch their date for this reason and two in three men15 said the same.

Ex Talk: Talking about previous partners was also a big turn off for women: 70% of women16 would ditch a date for this reason while only 59% of men17 said the same.

Looks Count: Men are more concerned about attractiveness in date, one in four18 would ditch a date if they were not as attractive as they had expected. Slightly fewer women (22%19) said lack of attractiveness would cause them to ditch a date.

Going Dutch: Only 6% of men20 say they would ditch a date who suggested splitting the bill, compared to almost one in five women21 (18%).

Sparing Feelings: While one in three22 (36%) women would make up an excuse to leave a bad date, almost half of men23 (47%) said that they would pretend to be interested throughout but then never contact their date again.

Notes to editors

  • Electrical Safety First is the UK charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electrical accidents. We campaign to improve safety regulation and messages, and provide expert information and advice to the public and professionals to help ensure everyone in the UK can use electricity safely. Visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk for more information
  • All consumer research, unless otherwise stated, was conducted by Populus on behalf of Electrical Safety First. Populus interviewed a random sample of 2,066 UK adults aged 18+ from its online panel between 20-21 January 2016.  Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more details go to www.populus.co.uk

References

  1. 36% of women say they would make up an excuse and leave earlier than intended. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p4
  2. 25% of men say that they would ditch their date if they weren’t as attractive as expected. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  3. 18% of women say they would ditch their date if they suggested splitting the bill. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  4. 1% of total UK population has experienced a house fire caused by an electrical beauty appliance that has been left switched on. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p11
  5. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  6. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  7. 8% of women admit to having left an electrical beauty device on at least once. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p6
  8. 45% of women have panicked about leaving an electrical beauty device on after leaving the house. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p8
  9. 33% of 18-24 year olds have been burned by an electrical beauty device. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p11
  10. 4% of people aged between 18-24 have experienced a house fire caused by an electrical beauty appliance left switched on. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p11
  11. 13% of women and 11% of men admit to ditching someone during a date. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p1
  12. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p2
  13. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p2
  14. 81% of women said that they would want to ditch someone who was rude to restaurant staff during a date. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  15. 63% of men said that they would want to ditch someone who was rude to restaurant staff during a date. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  16. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  17. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  18. 25% of men would want to ditch a date who wasn’t as attractive as expected. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  19. 22% of women would want to ditch a date who wasn’t as attractive as expected. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  20. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  21. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p3
  22. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p4
  23. Populus, January 2016, base 2066 adults, p4