- Bebeto research reveals one in two (53%) use “stealth tactics” to avoid trick-or-treaters
- More than a quarter switch off the lights, pretend nobody is home, or leave sweets outside
- Despite three quarters (73%) enjoying spooky season, 59% want relief from unwanted knockers
Nearly half of Brits (46 per cent) suffer from Halloween doorstep dread, with many resorting to watching television in silence, sitting in the dark and pretending not to be home to avoid trick-or-treaters, new research from the UK’s top challenger Halloween brand, Bebeto, reveals.
More than one in two (53 per cent) admit to using “stealth tactics” on Halloween: 29 per cent leave sweets outside, 27 per cent pretend not to be home and 26 per cent turn off their lights. Repeated knocking and distress caused to pets are also among the nation’s leading Halloween frustrations.
London-based Ian knows the feeling. He said: “I’ve tried sitting in the back room in the dark with the TV volume turned down to make the house look empty. It was 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.”
Neighbourly pressure across the nation
Ian is among the 48 per cent of Londoners who feel pressure from neighbours to hand out sweets, compared with 35 per cent nationally. Leeds is another hotspot as 46 per cent feel expected to take part.
Regional research also reveals Plymouth as Britain’s Halloween avoidance capital, with 29 per cent of residents saying they dislike or avoid the occasion. Almost half (48 per cent) switch off their lights to make it appear that nobody is home, while similar “blackout” tactics are seen in Bristol (43 per cent) and Brighton (40 per cent).
Self-serve solution brings back harmony
Bebeto has launched the Scrooge Sweetener: a playful Halloween stop sign with an integrated sweet bucket. Households can fill the station with Bebeto Halloween treats, including the brand’s new Boo Crew Foamies; soft, dual-coloured foam gummies in six spooky character shapes; and leave it outside for trick-or-treaters to help themselves while enjoying an uninterrupted evening indoors
The launch comes as 84 per cent believe trick-or-treaters, or their parents, would use a self-serve station respectfully. Nearly six in 10 adults (59 per cent) say a front-door sign with a built-in sweet bucket would offer relief from unwanted knocking.
“Halloween is my birthday, so I’d rather not be answering the door every few minutes,” said Ian. “The Scrooge Sweetener is the perfect compromise: local children can enjoy Bebeto sweets, while I can celebrate in peace. No knocks, just treats.”
Trick-or-treating remains a much loved tradition for most, and Britain is far from anti-Halloween: 73 per cent say they love or like the spooky season, while 79 per cent say trick-or-treating is common in their local area. The Scrooge Sweetener offers a way to preserve that tradition and the joy experienced from it, without making full participation feel compulsory.
Phil Hulme, Commercial Director for Bebeto UK, said: “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.”
To claim a Bebeto Scrooge Sweetener, visit www.bebeto.co.uk/pages/halloween. Explore Bebeto’s Halloween range and discover the new Boo Crew Foamies, soft, dual-coloured foam gummies in six spooky character shapes, perfect for trick-or-treating.
Bebeto’s Halloween Range
- New Boo Crew Foamies: a 130g bag of soft, dual-coloured foam gummy sweets made for spooky-season sharing, RRP £1. The range comes in orange, lime, cola and blue raspberry flavours, the range features six fun Halloween characters, including witches, Frankenstein’s monsters, vampires, pumpkins and cats. Other Bebeto Halloween favourites include:
- Witches Cauldron Mix: A 130g mix of gummies and centre-filled sweets, featuring worms, frogs, spiders and brains RRP £1
- Witches Hair Sour Pencils: A 160g bag of sour, fizzy pencils, the perfect Halloween treat RRP £1
- Spooky Mix Multi Bag: A 375g multipack containing 25 individually wrapped vegan bags of spooky sweet packs perfect for trick or treaters RRP £2
- Spooky Mix Gravity Box: A 675g box containing 45 individually wrapped bags of vegan Halloween-shaped gummies, ideal for handing out to trick-or-treaters RRP £5