Excuses to get out of a night out revealed

It's my goldfishes birthday, I've broken my leg and we're trying for a baby are amongst some of the oddest excuses being used by Brits to get out of a night out according to a new survey.
Ill pets, injuries and trying for a baby top the list of excuses for missing a night on the tiles.Ill pets, injuries and trying for a baby top the list of excuses for missing a night on the tiles.
Ill pets, injuries and trying for a baby top the list of excuses for missing a night on the tiles.

Half of Brits (50%) admit to ditching their friends ahead of a night out in favour of a takeaway and a box set.

If FOMO (fear of missing out) was 2015, JOMO (joy of missing out) is 2016.

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More than one in ten (12%) admit to lying to get out of plans at least once a fortnight, with almost a third (30%) making up excuses more than once a month, according to the study commissioned by on-demand restaurant delivery service, Deliveroo.

Top ten most extreme and weirdest excuses to get out of a night out include:

1. My hamster is ill

2. It’s my goldfish’s birthday

3. I’m stuck on the roof of my house

4. We’re trying for a baby

5. Falls and injuries / broken arm or leg

6. I’ve been arrested

7. Couldn’t find my hair spray

8. Abducted by aliens

9. Said I had found out I was pregnant... when I wasn’t

10. Was part of a hostage situation

Following the research Deliveroo is partnering with restaurants across the UK to create pre-selected bundles, offering customers a selection of best-selling food at a great price. These restaurants include: Jamie’s Italian, Prezzo, Chicken Shop & Dirty Burger, Yo! Sushi, Carluccio’s, Bill’s, Côte, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, MEATliquor, Zizzi and ASK Italian. Simply search on Deliveroo for ‘Any Excuse for a Bundle’ for the great offers.

The average time to back out of plans as 3.25 hours before an event, with a sneaky 13% of us even laying ground work for the eventual excuse the day before.

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It’s not just older generations who are shunning a big night out; 72% of 18-24 year olds admit they prefer a quiet evening at home over a night on the tiles.

But are we proud of our anti-social habits? Apparently not. Almost a fifth of us (17%) have pretended to have gone out, when we actually stayed at home.

And the main reason that we accept invitations to events we have no intention of attending… not hurting people’s feelings, according to nearly half (43%) of those questioned.

Spending money, bumping into people we don’t want to see and travelling to and from the venue are cited as the worst things about going out.

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Film, food and booze all top the list of the ingredients for the nation’s perfect night in - and when it comes to company, 15% of us would prefer to spend it alone, whilst a more sociable 52% would opt to chill out with their other half over anyone else.

Dan Warne from Deliveroo said: “We’ve discovered that people all over the country are bailing on their social plans at the last minute, instead opting for a quiet night at home, in front of the TV. And the excuses we’re coming up with are pretty starling!

“To celebrate the JOMO, we’re partnering with online video streaming service Wuaki.tv offering everyone who orders a Deliveroo meal on a Thursday a free movie to pair with their favourite food.

“So rather than ditching their friends at the last second, we’re encouraging people to get their friends together for the perfect night in with all of the things they love best: awesome food, a nice bottle of wine and a movie!”

Top ten most popular excuses to get out of a night out:

1. Illness

2. Other plans

3. I can’t make it anymore

4. I don’t want to go

5. I have to look after my pet

6. I have to work late

7. I have to get up early the next day

8. Family emergency

9. I’ve had an argument with my other half

10. No excuse – I just don’t turn up.

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