Permission to kiss not necessary, says public

Maria AdediranPress Officer
July 03, 2014, 12:40 PM GMT+0

The majority of the British public think that it’s okay to kiss a person without asking for their permission

The case of Tory MP Nigel Evans, who was recently cleared of 9 sexual assault charges, has sparked a debate over the politics of kissing. Seeking a person’s consent before planting a kiss on them is considered the best way to avoid a clumsy pass turning into a potential criminal case.

A recent YouGov survey finds that the majority (54%) of British people say that it is okay to go ahead and kiss a person when it feels right – without asking for permission. 26% disagree, saying it is necessary to seek permission before kissing an individual and 20% are unsure.

Both men (56%) and women (53%) agree that it is okay to kiss a person without seeking permission. However, women (23%) are more likely to respond “Don’t know” when asked the same question compared to men (16%).

The survey also finds that the average age for Brits to have had their first kiss is 14 years old.

Interestingly, the average age for those living in London is 16, two years later than in other regions (except Scotland, where the average age is 13).

Image: Getty

See the full poll results