‘Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun’.
This quote from a Noël Coward song popped into my head a week or two back while I wandered around the pretty Menorcan resort of Cala'n Bosch …at Midday.
It was bloody hot. Didn’t see any dogs though, mad or otherwise. Seems it’s just English (wo)men foolish enough to be out and about at that time of day, skin turning an alarming shade of lobster.
In preparation for my much-needed family holiday, I had Duolingo’d obsessively for weeks, determined to at least try and converse in the local lingo. Not that the app had been entirely helpful, getting me to repeat Spanish translations for phrases such as ‘Juan has a pretty car’ and ‘the fish does not need a chair’ (these are genuine Duolingo phrases by the way – that app is bonkers.)
I’ll admit to being a bit apprehensive about the trip, especially after reading recent reports of angry Spanish locals fighting back against mass tourism. It’s a topic I’ve covered in a recent blog and now, I was going to be part of the problem. I was the much-maligned, seldom-liked ‘Brit Abroad’.
Not all Brits…
Before the eye-rolling starts, this isn’t going to be a Brit-bashing blog, nor am I going to be an apologist for crappy behaviour by my fellow countrymen (and occasionally, women). What I do want to explore, however, is just how unpopular we are – or perceive ourselves to be – and the reasons behind why so many of us lose our inhibitions the minute we set foot in the airport.
And of course, use of the word ‘we’ may be jarring to many. The vast majority of British tourists are perfectly well-behaved, simply wishing to enjoy a peaceful holiday in the sun.
So, yes, of course I must caveat this by stating not all Brits, but there is undeniably a segment of British tourists whose actions and attitudes have earned our country a lousy reputation abroad.
Riots and not-so-Sweet Caroline
The recent riots will have done little to help improve our image. As ugly, violent scenes in UK cities were broadcast across the world, many of our European neighbours will have recoiled in horror at the prospect of similar scenes – albeit not political – being played out in tourist resorts across the continent.
And then there’s football. Many of us will recall shrinking in shame over the years watching England supporters smashing up bars, chanting racist songs and causing havoc on the streets of the host nation.
Notice I’ve said England supporters. It’s an entirely different story for Scottish fans, if the recent Euros in Germany are anything to go by. Who else can admit to getting a little misty-eyed at the blossoming bromance between Scottish and German supporters on the streets of Cologne? Even the city mayor joined in, posting a little love letter to the Tartan Army after Scotland’s early exit from the tournament:
You’ll be unsurprised to hear English supporters received no such message from the Mayor of Düsseldorf.
In all fairness though, we weren’t *too* bad this time round. A recent article in The Guardian reflected on a largely violence-free few weeks in Germany, suggesting that our supporters have been noticeably less busy with their fists compared to previous tournaments, while arrests were kept to a minimum.
Another article attributes this turnaround to a shift in demographics, namely the increasing number of families in attendance, as well as better policing and ticketing, with tickets only being sold through the England Supporters Travel Club.
It wasn’t all great though. As the Guardian article alludes to, we are very much still a work in progress.
Are we really that bad?
Away from football, there is generally still a poor opinion of Brits abroad…not least amongst Brits themselves. According to a 2019 YouGov study (shown below), we are the country with the most negative view of its own tourists. More than half of us (57%) hold an unfavourable opinion of our fellow British tourists, while just 29% take a positive view.
We’re not oblivious to what other nationalities think of us either, with a whopping 61% believing locals in other countries have a negative opinion of us – ouch!
Such fears aren’t unfounded, evidence of which can be easily found in tourist hotspots such as Amsterdam and the Balearics. Fed up with poor behaviour, Amsterdam City Council launched its ‘Stay Away’ campaign last year, targeting men aged 18 to 35 in the UK who might be planning to visit the city as part of a stag do or pub crawl or ‘lad’s weekend’. The campaign videos show young men staggering in the street, handcuffed by police, finger-printed and having their mugshots taken, serving as a stark warning that causing mischief in the renowned party capital could result in convictions and large fines.
Further south in Mallorca, a series of new rules have been introduced over the last couple of years to tackle drunken behaviour in its party resorts. Restaurants have banned shirtless, costumed or football-shirt-wearing travellers while alcohol sales are banned between 9:30pm and 08:00 am local time. You also risk incurring a fine if you are caught drinking alcohol in unauthorised places.
It’s not just in drinking hotspots where we’re making a nuisance of ourselves. Back in June 2023, a British tourist (‘but born in Bulgaria!’ as The Daily Mail was keen to emphasise) was caught carving ‘Ivan + Hayley 23’ into the Colosseum in Rome, grinning inanely as he was caught on camera.
In April, another British tourist was arrested in Thailand after he was spotted stripping naked and cupping his crotch in front of a group of other tourists.
There are plenty of other examples but it’s all a bit depressing really.
Why do we do it?
An article from The Telegraph took a closer look as to the science behind why many Brits behave badly abroad. I’ve summarised the findings below (none of which will come as a huge surprise!):
1. Excess alcohol consumption
Alcohol is a major factor in bad behaviour abroad. The culture of drinking, especially binge drinking, is particularly pronounced among Brits. This starts even before departure, with boozy airport breakfasts being socially acceptable (think of those ubiquitous ‘first pint of the holidays!’ Instagram posts), leading to recent calls for airports to have a two drink limit pre take off. The link between excessive drinking and aggression is strong in British culture, far more so than in countries such as Spain, Greece and Portugal, leading to disruptive, rowdy behaviour.
2. Escape from social norms
Many Brits travel to escape the grind and monotony of daily life, prompting a desire to ‘let their hair down’. The absence of familiar social norms and peer judgment abroad allows holidaymakers to act in ways they wouldn't at home.
A survey conducted by UK law firm JMW backs up this rationale, with 42% of respondents believing their behaviour to be significantly more reckless while on holiday than in their everyday lives. This admission of increased recklessness ties in with the ‘escape from social norms’ concept, resulting in individuals taking more risks or acting impulsively.
3. Lack of consequences
Tourists are more likely to engage in dubious or reckless behaviour when they are under the impression there is a low likelihood of punishment or consequences. The temporary nature of holidays combined with anonymity and a lack of connection to the vicinity (i.e. don’t sh*t in your own backyard) contribute to this misguided mindset.
4. Cultural arrogance
This one will be contentious, but some may attribute poor behaviour abroad to lingering remnants of imperial attitudes or a perceived sense of cultural superiority. There’s also the fact that English is so widely spoken globally which may contribute to a mindset of entitlement and a reluctance to attempt other languages when holidaying abroad.
Final thoughts
Phew. I promised that this wouldn’t be a Brit-bashing article, yet here I am, feeling a bit battered and bruised.
But there are some small glimmers of hope. The recent Euros tournament has demonstrated we are slowly moving in the right direction (with a little help from external factors such as more efficient policing and better ticketing). Also, with Gen Z consuming 20% less alcohol than Millennials, it feels like there is a shift away from the ‘lager lager lager’ trends that were so prevalent in the 90s and 00s, meaning excessive alcohol consumption will no longer primarily be 'the goal' of holidays in years to come.
As for me and my Menorca jaunt, did I get a sense of being actively disliked when in Menorca? Not at all. Locals were friendly, welcoming and forgiving of my pretty ropey attempts at their language (“you’re right, Señora, the fish does not need a chair. Now what would you like to eat?”).
But that’s enough soul searching for now. I hope you don't feel *too* bashed. Let’s wrap things up with this delightful headline, which I have to confess lives in my head rent-free:
