As new research reveals increasing rudeness towards hospitality staff, chef Marco Pierre White has partnered with Stella Artois and Hospitality Action to encourage politeness to staff this Christmas.
New research amongst hospitality workers from Stella Artois and YouGov1 has revealed 41% of those surveyed are concerned that customers will be ruder this festive season. A further 40% reported that rude behaviour amongst customers has got worse since lockdown measures lifted earlier this year.
To help encourage respectful behaviour in restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs across the country, Stella Artois has partnered with charity Hospitality Action and enlisted the help of Marco Pierre White, chef of former Michelin starred restaurants Harvey’s and Marco Pierre White.
Not using essential manners like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ (78%) is the most common form of discourteous behaviour experienced by the 1,000 hospitality workers approached for the survey. This is followed by complaining about the cost of services/products (64%) and talking on phone whilst interacting with them (49%). Seven out of ten workers shared that they have experienced rudeness from customers.
To tackle the problem, in selected pubs across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Newport, customers can say “Can I have a Stella, please” when placing their order and will receive £1 off their pint. For each pint ordered, a donation by Stella Artois will also be made to Hospitality Action to support hospitality workers during their busiest season.
Marco Pierre White said of the campaign: “Over the years I have witnessed my team be on the receiving end of rude and unnecessary behaviour from customers. And today, in the lead up to a very busy Christmas period, I would like to proudly stand alongside the hospitality industry and do my bit and say ‘please be polite’. Wishing everyone a happy Christmas.”
This initiative comes from a beer that has been unfairly nicknamed among some in the UK as ‘wifebeater’ for, some say, its role in promoting aggressive behaviour among men. However, the real reason the term was originally attached to the beer is an original reference to A Streetcar Named Desire, and a scene in the film when Marlon Brando falls to his knees outside his home shouting “Stella”, following his physical abuse of her.
Stella Artois owner Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has forecasted 4% to 8% growth in core profit over the next four years, according to a recent investor update. Read more on that here.