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A new poll suggests bad breath and table manners are key deal-breakers when it comes to how successful a date might be. (senivpetro/FreePik)
DATE DON'TS

Table manners & mangy breath identified as key dating deal-breakers

Feb 14, 2022 | 12:18 PM

NANAIMO — Before you head out on your Valentine’s Day date, pop a mint and brush up on your table manners.

A Research Co. poll conducted in late January surveyed 1,000 adults across the country, asking a range of questions from first date deal breakers to reasons why people would break off a longer-term relationship.

Mario Canseco, president of Research Co. said two main issues arose as key reasons people will look for love elsewhere.

“You might be a fantastic prospect if somebody’s looking at your picture on a dating website, but if you have bad breath or not the table manners people expect of you, you’re not going to get a second date.”

Bad breath was a hot button issue for a good proportion of those surveyed with 28 per cent saying they would dump their date if the breath was bad.

Canseco said men were either more tolerant or more stinky than their female counterparts.

“There’s a significant gender gap. We have only 22 per cent of men who would consider breaking up with a person because of bad breath, but it goes all the way up to 32 per cent for women.”

Sufficient table manners were also identified as an issue.

More than a quarter would call off a second date or relationship based on how someone ate at the table with women more discerning than men.

“People in Alberta (23 per cent, lowest in Canada) really don’t care much about something like this but here in British Columbia (33 per cent, highest in Canada) it is certainly something we’re paying attention to,” Canseco said.

The survey showed nine per cent of people would make a relationship decision based on diet choices, while eight per cent would look elsewhere for a partner if their date ate animal products.

— with files from 97.3 The Eagle

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