OFFICIAL, BRITS GO ALL THE WAY ON THE THIRD DATE We’re twice more likely to have one-night stand than wait for marriage

Of the 2,000 people questioned by PARSHIP.co.uk, one in six British adults (16%) `say they would have sex on a first date – that’s one in five men (20%) compared to just one in ten women (10%). By contrast, only 7% of Brits – 6% of men and 9% of women – would vow to save themselves for their wedding night.

The majority, 76%, claim they would prefer to get to know someone first before getting more intimate. However, ‘getting to know someone’ now takes just three dates.

Dr Victoria Lukats, psychiatrist and PARSHIP.co.uk’s relationship and dating expert, says:
“It’s not surprising that there’s a discrepancy between what women and men say and the actual time they tend to wait before having sex. Clearly someone isn’t being entirely truthful. It’s likely that men tend to hype up their sexual prowess whereas, even in 2006, women still feel the need to downplay their sexual experience and appetite, for fear of how they will be perceived by others.”

She added:
“It seems that, on some level, a sort of denial about one’s sexual past is common: singles will often admit to having had a one-night stand or three in the past, yet, despite their track-record, they are often reluctant to admit they would consider a casual night of passion in the future. Perhaps taboos and guilt still surround sex more than we care to admit.”

Leading the charge in sexual liberation are the Baby Boomers, the very people who had been expected to keep themselves chaste for marriage, but instead were the drivers of sexual freedom in the 60s and 70s. One in five of 50 to 60 year olds (18%), said they didn’t see the point in waiting to have sex: “It’s better to get straight down to it as life’s too short.” Similarly the Scots and Northerners are the most likely to put out on a first date, at 17%.

Most repressed are the 40-somethings, together with people from Birmingham. A massive nine out of ten (91%) claim they are keeping their pants firmly on during a first date. And 10% of people from Birmingham would wait for at least one year before heading for the bedroom.

WARNING: When it comes to making the first move, beware. One third, 31% of Britons said that the mention of sex on a first date is a turn-off: that’s 18% of men and a massive 42% of women. Yet half of Britain’s singles say it wouldn’t alter their perception either way – with, predictably, men (61%) leading the way over women (35%).