The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Dining in is the new dining out. So says an exclusive new survey from Baileys Original Irish Cream, the world's most popular liqueur. Conducted by Ipsos-Reid, the survey reveals a dramatic new trend in the way Canadians entertain. Gone are the days of fancy dinners, both out at restaurants and at home. Instead, close to 60 per cent of Canadians under the age of 54 want to forget formality and prefer backyard barbecues and casual fun with friends and family. Here are a few other findings: - More than 50 per cent of Canadians will attend casual gatherings this summer - As education and income increase, so do Canadians' preferences for casual gatherings - On average, Canadians will attend between six and ten gatherings this summer - that's one every two weeks - Atlantic Canada and Ontario are the most social provinces, with 15 and 12 per cent of respondents from these regions, respectively, gathering 20 or more times this summer. See 'Trend' P.# Con't from P.# "A trend towards casual everyday entertaining is sweeping the globe. Our survey proves that Canadians are right in step with the times - and so is Baileys," says Peter O'Connor, vice-president of Baileys in Ireland. In preparation for the launch of its progressive new image, the people at Baileys commissioned Ipsos-Reid to ask 1,000 Canadians of legal drinking age how they entertain friends and family. It shows the dial has clearly moved from formality to a more relaxed, comfortable and casual attitude. "Canadians want to entertain friends and family with casual, playful gatherings, yet they still want them to be special," says Mr. O'Connor. Other survey findings: - More than a third of Canadians will attend a wedding or anniversary this summer. Apparently more women will be guests than men, with 42 per cent of women saying they'll attend these special gatherings; only 28 per cent of Canadian men say the same - Nearly one quarter of Canadians will attend a family reunion this summer - Quebec leads the family charge with 35 per cent of its population heading to a family reunion. - 40 per cent of Canadian women say walking along the beach in bare feet is the ultimate indulgence - 37 per cent of Canadian men prefer to leave work early and head to the great outdoors - The desire to leave work early increases with education and income; the most likely truant: a university graduate making more than $60,000 per year - The Prairies say forget fad diets, their indulgence of choice is a big banana split (32 per cent).
