London: For nearly 250 years, it has advised the public on the finer points of etiquette, from how to write a thank-you note to what to do when one meets the Queen.
But judging from the thousands of queries received by the publishers of Debrett’s Handbook, it is more recent inventions such as smartphones and e-cigarettes that present the greatest social minefield today.
Instead of mulling over how to behave when meeting the Queen, a question which dominated the public’s concerns 10 and 20 years ago, readers now inquire about applying make-up on public transport and whether to recline one’s aeroplane seat.
Nearly 800 people asked whether it was acceptable to eat on public transport, while 732 inquired about when to use a mobile telephone. A further 711 asked about the minefield of greeting people with a kiss, with others agonising over giving up their seat on the Tube, when to start eating at a formal meal and how to pour drinks.
Official advice from the guide, which was founded in 1769, states that e-cigarettes should never be used at work, that it is “selfish” to recline one’s seat on a short-haul flight, and that it is “always rude to pay more attention to a phone than a person in the flesh”.
On the question of public transport, it rules: “It’s inconsiderate to eat smelly food in a confined environment, and applying make-up on public transport can jeopardise that all-important first impression and make you appear disorganised.”
The list of queries is markedly different to those asked in 2004, when readers were preoccupied with text message etiquette, asking for money as a wedding present and how to dress for Ascot. In 1994, the equivalent questions involved when to write a thank-you note, how to write to a titled person and “what to do if you meet the Queen”.
Jo Bryant, editor of the 480-page Debrett’s Handbook, said: “The sheer number of inquiries we receive demonstrates that manners are still hugely important to people. “It can be a minefield knowing how to behave in social situations, but the key is to always consider those around you. The Debrett’s Handbook provides guidelines that will make everyday life easier.”
The Daily Telegraph
