More than half of Brits resort to stealth tactics to avoid trick-or-treaters, with millions switching off the lights, pretending they are not home or leaving sweets outside to escape the Halloween knock at the door, new research has found.
More than one in two (53%) admit using tactics to dodge unwanted callers, while almost half (46%) suffer from “doorstep dread” at this time of year, according to research from confectionery brand Bebeto.
Londoner shares experience
Londoner Ian Prosser knows the feeling. “I’ve tried sitting in the back room in the dark with the TV volume turned down to make the house look empty,” he says.
Because despite being born on 31 October, Ian hates Halloween. “It is complete misery. Not only did I spend my 60th birthday hiding away, but kids were still banging on the door and ringing the bell regardless. You feel like a hostage in your own home,” he adds.
Pressure felt by many
Ian is among the 48% of Londoners who feel pressure from neighbours to hand out sweets, compared with 35% nationally.
Which is why Bebeto has launched the Scrooge Sweetener – a self-serve sweet station designed to give Halloween avoiders a knock-free night without leaving trick-or-treaters empty-handed. The playful stop sign lets visitors know not to knock, while an integrated sweet bucket means households can support local children, without having to answer the door.
New Halloween range
Bebeto’s Halloween favourites include the brand’s new Boo Crew Foamies; soft, dual-coloured foam gummies in six spooky character shapes, the Witches Cauldron Mix and fizzy Witches Hair Sour Pencils, alongside a 25-bag Spooky Mix Multi Bag and a monster 45-bag Spooky Mix Gravity Box.
To claim a Bebeto Scrooge Sweetener, visit bebeto.co.uk/pages/halloween. Ian added: “Because Halloween is my birthday, I’d rather not be answering the door every few minutes. The Scrooge Sweetener is the perfect compromise: local children can enjoy Bebeto sweets, while I can celebrate in peace.”
Phil Hulme from Bebeto UK added: “Trick-or-treating is a much-loved Halloween tradition, but repeated doorstep knocks can take the fun out of the evening for some households. The Scrooge Sweetener is our playful answer: a simple way to keep treats flowing for local communities across the UK while allowing people to enjoy Halloween on their own terms.”
