DiscoverNudgeHow did Guinness become Britain’s most popular pint?
How did Guinness become Britain’s most popular pint?

How did Guinness become Britain’s most popular pint?

Update: 2025-10-271
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Britain’s most popular pint has a major flaw. 


It takes 2 minutes to pour. 


This should put people off. Most of us don’t love waiting at the bar. 


And yet, despite this flaw, one in every nine British pints sold is Guinness. 


Why? 


Well, today’s guest, behavioural scientist Richard Shotton, says it’s down to some evidence-backed consumer psychology. 


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Today’s sources


Aronson, E., Willerman, B., & Floyd, J. (1966). The effect of a pratfall on increasing interpersonal attractiveness. Psychonomic Science, 4(6), 227–228.


Bohner, G., Einwiller, S., Erb, H.-P., & Siebler, F. (2003). When small means comfortable: Relations between product attributes in two-sided advertising. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 13(4), 454–463.


Kruger, J., Wirtz, D., Van Boven, L., & Altermatt, T. W. (2004). The effort heuristic. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40(1), 91–98.


Williams, K. D., Bourgeois, M. J., & Croyle, R. T. (1993). The effects of stealing thunder in criminal and civil trials. Law and Human Behavior, 17(6), 597–609

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How did Guinness become Britain’s most popular pint?

How did Guinness become Britain’s most popular pint?

Phill Agnew