2 in 5 Brits admit to drinking alcohol whilst BBQing and 1 in 5 leave the BBQ unattended whilst it’s lit, prompting the risk of a fire hazard

New data has found that 2 in 5 Brits admit to drinking alcohol when BBQing and 1 in 5 leave the BBQ unattended, both of which can cause a potential fire hazard.

BBQ specialists, Hayes Garden World, conducted a survey of 2,005 Brits to disclose Brits’ bad BBQ habits.

The survey found that:

• 2 in 5 Brits, always, or often, drink alcohol whilst BBQing

• 1 in 5 always, or often, leave the BBQ unattended whilst it’s lit

• 2 in 5 Brits never, or rarely, use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat

• 2 in 5 Brits always, or often, use the same utensils for different types of food

• 1 in 10 Brits never, or rarely, properly clean the grill before using it

• 1 in 10 Brits never, or rarely, wash their hands in between handling cooked and uncooked food

17% of Brits admit to always drinking alcohol when BBQing, and it’s men (16%), Millennials, aged 25-34 (18%), and those residing from Nottingham (25%) who were found to be the biggest culprits.

According to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, alcohol consumption increases the risk of accidents when around a BBQ, likely due to people’s vision and concentration being impaired.

1 in 5 Brits always, or often, leave the BBQ unattended whilst it’s lit, which is alarming given that flames and embers can become out of control, potentially igniting nearby combustible materials.

The worst offenders for always leaving the BBQ unattended whilst it’s lit were found to be Gen-Z (aged 16-24), men (8%), and those from the West Midlands (13%).

Commenting on the findings, Barbeque Team Leader and Buyer, Ian Hodgett from Hayes Garden World said:

“Fire safety is a huge concern when it comes to BBQing that is often overlooked, so it’s concerning to see the statistics on some Brits mismanaging their BBQ. Drinking alcohol usually means your inhibitions are lowered and movements are more flippant, and this behaviour around a lit BBQ, that can reach 260℃, is extremely worrying. Moreso, if alcohol was to land on the grill, this could further ignite the flames.”

“Leaving a BBQ unattended when it’s lit is also a major fire hazard; food can flare up in flames if it is left on the grill for too long. Plus, if there are children running around, it is integral to properly turn the BBQ off by turning the valves to the off position and shutting the vents so that they aren’t subjected to burns.”

Hayes Garden World conducted this data to discover Brits’ bad BBQ habits. Check out their range of BBQs here.