New survey reveals what Brits would actually do if a nuclear missile was incoming – and it’s very, very British.
A new poll has found that 24% of Brits would head straight to the pub if the government announced a nuclear strike was imminent.
Rather than seeking shelter or following emergency protocols, nearly one in four said they’d prefer to “go out with a pint in hand” or “spend their last moments somewhere familiar.”
The survey, commissioned by online entertainment brand Slotozilla, asked 2,000 UK adults what their first move would be if the UK was given less than an hour’s notice of an incoming nuclear missile.
Top Answers Included:
- 24% – Head to the pub
- 18% – Would attempt to build a bunker…
- 16% – Try to reach family, even if it meant breaking the law
- 14% – Do nothing – “what’s the point?”
- 11% – Get in the car and drive
- 7% – Google how to survive
- 5% – Start looting
- 3% – Post on social media
- 2% – Call an ex
Regional Differences:
- 30% of Northerners said they’d head to the pub, compared to just 11% of Londoners.
- Scottish respondents were most likely to seek out family (22%)
- Londoners were most likely to say they’d “do nothing” (19%)
- Welsh respondents had the highest proportion who said they’d pray (9%)
Gender Gaps:
- Men were twice as likely to say they’d try to build a bunker (24% vs 11% of women)
- Women were more likely to want to be with family (19% vs 13%)
- Men were more likely to admit they’d loot or “try to take control”
- 3% of women said they’d call their mum
Who Would Brits Spend Their Final Hour With?
When asked to choose a public figure they’d most want to spend their last hour with, the most popular answers were:
- David Attenborough
- Adele
- Louis Theroux
- Nigella Lawson
- Alison Hammond
Some respondents also wrote in: “whoever works at my local Tesco” and “whoever’s still serving pints.”
A spokesperson for Slotozilla said:
“It’s a dark question, but one that reveals a lot about British attitudes to crisis. The responses ranged from the surprisingly wholesome to the completely unhinged – and most of them involved a pub.”