Over a quarter of Brits (27%) have been called out by their mates – for telling tall tales down at the pub, research has found.
The top things Brits exaggerate over a pint at their local watering hole include how much money they have spent on things (23%), their tolerance to spicy food (12%) – and how many former lovers they have had (16%).
And over half (56%), of the 2,000 pub-goers polled, admit they have heard what they believe to be someone stretching the truth when telling a story in the pub.
However, 39% of those who have been questioned about this are insistent that what they were saying is completely true.
Other topics they are likely to over-embellish include how funny a night out really was – and how many times they got chatted up on a night out.
It also emerged that men are more likely than women to exaggerate their tales in almost every category – and twice as likely to exaggerate their salary – except when it came to overstating how fancy their holiday hotel was.
Londoners, meanwhile, were much more likely to overstate their sporting prowess (27%, vs 14% nationally), or say they’d snogged a celebrity, with one in twelve Londoners claiming this.
The research was commissioned by Foster’s, which has created the “Cock and Bull Detector”, with the help of a professional polygraph examiner, so pub goers can prove the incredible stories they tell are true.
TV personality Tom Skinner, who teamed up with the beer brand and visited the Bull Inn to test the machine for himself, said: “I’m often called out for telling stories that people think are cock and bull, when in fact they’re 100% true.
“I was thrilled that Foster’s have created the Cock and Bull Detector to show that I was telling the truth once and for all.”
One of the stories Tom told, which passed the Cock and Bull Detector, was: “I went to Soho with my good mate Rylan. He only stitched me up and sent over a load of beers, and got the punters singing happy birthday – I was properly embarrassed.
“Funny though, I got my own back. We went out of the boozer and all these people were shouting at us, “I know you, you’re that geezer from the TV”.
“He gives the hair flick ready for the selfies, and they pushed past him to get to me – didn’t recognise him for toffee.”
Of those who have been told an unbelievable-sounding story at the pub, one in five have raised an eyebrow after hearing about someone’s level of seniority at work – while 15% questioned the legitimacy when a pub goer discussed their fitness levels.
As a result, 34% wish they could witness a friend doing a lie detector test.
However, 53% of drinkers guilty of telling a tall tale say they have done so to get a laugh from their mates.
Inconsistencies to the story (51%) is the most obvious tell-tale sign someone might be bending the truth, while another giveaway is when the drinker says “umm” a lot (26%).
But, due to this scepticism, 31% have refrained from telling a story – because they were worried people would think it is “too good to be true”.
Matt Saltzstein, beer brand director at Foster’s, which is giving pub-goers the chance to win a £50 bar tab to share with friends, said: “We’ve all raised an eyebrow after hearing something over a beer in the pub.
“Our research shows some people are willing to exaggerate just about anything – but more often than not, it is with the intention to raise a smile or two among their mates.
“However, it’s a crying shame to dismiss the elaborate cock and bull tales that are actually true. We think these sorts of stories are just one of the many things which make the British pub such an institution.”
The research, conducted via OnePoll, also found “banter” is pub goers’ second favourite thing about their local watering hole – just being pipped to the post by the drinks.
Of the top 10 largest cities in the UK, London, Liverpool, and Manchester are recognised as the hotspots for the best pub banter.
And drinkers would most like to go for a pint with Ricky Gervais, Graham Norton, and Jeremy Clarkson, because they believe these celebs would have the local in stitches.
TOP 10 TALES PEOPLE EXAGGERATE IN THE PUB:
- How funny a night out actually was
- How much they have spent on things
- How many partners they have had
- How many times they got chatted up on a night out
- How far they can run, swim, or cycle
- How fancy their holiday hotel was
- Their cooking prowess
- Their seniority at work
- Their tolerance to spicy food
- How much they earn
