The most hated Christmas presents in the UK
With Christmas just around the corner, we thought it would be interesting to survey Brits¹ to delve into the UK’s most hated Christmas gifts and highlight what people should avoid purchasing this festive season (spoiler alert, whisky is not on the list!).
According to our research, the top five most disliked Christmas gifts to receive include:
Novelty tie (27%)
Novelty desk gifts (18%)
Joke books (17%)
Aftershave (16%)
Beer glass (16%)
Christmas jumper (15%)
Alcohol flask (15%)
Mini/novelty tool sets (13%)
Gardening tools (12%)
Boxers (12%)
Novelty gifts
More than 14 million Brits are tired of receiving novelty gifts at Christmas, particularly novelty ties (27%)², our research reveals. Other most hated novelties include personalised mugs, handcuffs, slippers, socks, leggings, onesies, and reindeer poo. Novelty desk gifts (such as mini desk golf) are another present loved ones should stay away from (18%).
Grooming gift sets
Alongside novelty items, respondents shared that joke books (17%), aftershave (16%), and a beer glass (16%) wouldn't be welcomed under the Christmas tree this year. Respondents expressed their distaste for receiving aftershave commenting that Lynx Africa gift sets were their most loathed present to receive.
Bad clothing and accessories
Christmas jumpers and pyjamas are another no-go, with London (18%) and the North East (20%) venting their annoyance about receiving Christmas PJs. Scotland (20%), Yorkshire and Humberside (15%), the East of England (18%), and the South East (17%) dread receiving festive knitted jumpers on the 25th of December.
Other bad clothing items Brits have received at Christmas in the past include a paisley shirt, driving gloves, a pink leather purse, a trilby hat, a cardigan with one of the pockets sewn in wrong, and two scarves from the same person.
One male respondent commented “As I never wear jumpers, I hated the jumper my wife gave me at Christmas” and a female respondent shared her worst present: “A jumper from my ex-boyfriend with a picture of us on it.”
Toilet accessories and weird food items
Other bad Christmas gifts include toilet accessories and weird food items. Shockingly, responses highlight that Brits are receiving Christmas gifts that they’re allergic or intolerant to, and could be detrimental to their health; including a peanut chocolate bar and fudge. Onions and a tin of beans also make the list of the strangest foodie gifts.
The toilet-related items gift buyers seem to be a fan of include a portable loo, soap on a rope, a toilet roll cover, a plastic shower cap, talcum powder, shower gel, and shampoo. With this in mind and the abundance of Lynx Arica gift sets being found in stockings, what are Brits trying to say about their loved one's hygiene?
Gardening tools
Wales (18%) also expressed their hatred for gardening tools, with Brits divulging the worst garden-related items they’ve ever received including a garden centre voucher (respondent has no garden), a cheap pair of garden shears, an arrangement of fake flowers, and a book about plants.
Choosing a thoughtful gift this Christmas
It’s really interesting (and funny!), to see some of the Christmas gifts that Brits have received over the years and what they’re worried to receive this year. It can be really hard to buy for family and friends, especially those that seem to have everything already, so we understand how some people might slip up on buying good presents, it’s easily done!
We also think people believe they need to buy rafts of presents for their loved ones, when this isn't the case. We think one or two well-thought-out gifts would be more appreciated than a pile of presents that have been bought and wrapped at the last minute.
Specialising in Scotch whisky, we really understand what it means to create something that people will truly appreciate and value. So much time and care goes into each of our Tri Carragh bottles, and we think when people are shopping for Christmas gifts, they need to be mindful of how things have been made, and the care that has been taken to produce them. If shoppers think this way, they have a good chance of purchasing something for their loved one that they will cherish, and will remember for years to come.
Give whisky this Christmas and Hogmanay
If you have a whisky lover in your life, why not treat them to one of our three single malt Scotch whisky bottles? Our three Tri Carragh bottles are single-cask releases and include Bunnahabhain, Linkwood, and Tomatin.
To browse our Scotch whisky bottles, please visit: https://www.tricarragh.com/
Sources
Survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted in November 2022 by Opinium on behalf of Stravaig Spirits
Figure calculation: 27% of 52 million (adult population) = 14,310,000