I know all the instructions about handwashing

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And everyone here seems to be constantly washing their hands but (you knew there's be a but) my experience of real life is that this is not how people behave.

For example:

• I quite often have grouos of people round for drinks and a light lunch in my garden (in usual times). I don't think anyone has ever nipped to the loo to wash hands on arrival before eating.

• At other people's BBQs I've never seen anyone go to wash their hands as soon as the host announces the food is ready

• At a function when the buffet opens, people go straight for the food, not to wash their hands

• At a picnic, some parents might have hand sanitizer, especially now, but I don't think that is common among people who don't have little ones.

• I've never been on a date or out in a group to a restaurant where anyone's gone to wash hands before the food arrives.

• Colleagues don't go to wash their hands before accepting a biscuit or cake being passed round or before getting out their packed lunch to eat at their desk.

Read some of the threads here and this is truly abhorrent behaviour, but it's my experience.

Is it just my friends, colleagues and family or is this actually normal?

I should say I do wash my hands frequently but I don't always seek out an opportunity imeadiately before eating.

I always do and always have and always got ribbed for it!

Before Covid hit, I only ever washed my hands after going to the toilet or if they were visibly or obviously dirty, or I'd touched something visibly or obviously dirty. Never owned hand sanitiser until 18 months ago. I think this is (or at least was) normal.

I don't do this, I don't know anyone who does, and I've also never heard that it's a thing to wash your hands every time you are about to eat something. 🤷‍♀️

I always wash my hands before eating anything at buffets, barbecues etc (if not possible I’d use a napkin to pick up, eg if slices of cake were being passed around the office, or getting street food etc. People used to take the piss out of me for it.

I live in London and wash my hands shortly after arriving anywhere - office, pub, someone's house. In Indian restaurants I'm used to sinks being available next to the toilets to wash hands before eating with hands.

People have always commented on me washing my hands too much, but I am aware since covid that even I do miss some times when it would be recommended (like before a buffet or picnic, but I've had people act like I'm fanatical for washing my hands after changing a nappy or taking the bins out not envy)

I always wash my hands when I get home, and after unpacking the shopping. I wash my hands after handling any chemicals (including loading the washing machine) and between handling different food types, and before making hot drinks. For years I've had people comment on how much I wash my hands, but it's not enough by covid standards so I have increased it again

Before covid some people I know would be teaching their children to wash their hands before their meal. And it's something that would get taught at nursery too.
But no I know no grown ups who do it, never have. Which is why I didn't teach mine. Obviously it's different if they're dirty

Heck no. I credit my parents not making me wash my hands before eating for my amazing immune system; I'm healthy as a bull.
I wash my hands after the toilet, and if they are actually visibly dirty, like after gardening. That's it. In covid times I also wash them with soap before going to the supermarket etc.
I avoid sanitiser like the plague. The bacteria on my skin is exceptionally useful for crowding out any invaders - why would I want to kill it all and then have no defences? A 'spare room' just waiting for the bad invaders to move in? No thanks!

I don't wash my hands constantly. After using toilet, cooking especially raw meat etc. No I haven't gone before eating in a public place unless needing the toilet. I suspect I'm normal

I was somewhere not long ago, can’t for the life of me remember where but I remember seeing someone being served a cake or something and the server wasn’t wearing gloves, just picked it with a bare hand and put it into a bag x

I went to the toilets in M and S the other day whilst shopping in town and literally couldn’t wash my hands because there was only one tap and it was scolding hot beside the point but thought it worth a mention. The twenty second hand washing rule doesn’t work well when out in public in this country because the plumbing is generally shit - no mixer taps, you either scold or freeze your hands or you just get a dribble of water out of the tap.

I anti-bac before eating anything.

I thought it was just me!

I wash my hands after going to the toilet, or doing something mucky, but that's about it. Obviously with covid, I sanitise when out in public.

My friends and family do not all rush off to wash hands before eating either e.g. at BBQ or out for lunch.

I'm generally pretty healthy, so I don't think this has had any adverse effects yet.

i agree, and before cooking,

we try and teach our children to wash hands before eating, but then forget this basic hygiene.

Your friends are dirty. Most people are. Personally I wash my hands as soon as they stop smelling of soap from the last time, even if I haven't been doing much with them.

Recently when going into a restaurant for lunch, queueing to be taken to our table, we sanitised our hands. It made me wonder why that was a new
thing, it makes perfect sense, but before covid it just wouldn't have occurred to most of us. I hope the hand cleaning stations remain.

I went to the toilets in M and S the other day whilst shopping in town and literally couldn’t wash my hands because there was only one tap and it was scolding hot hmm beside the point but thought it worth a mention. The twenty second hand washing rule doesn’t work well when out in public in this country because the plumbing is generally shit - no mixer taps, you either scold or freeze your hands or you just get a dribble of water out of the tap.

Yes, that's put me off many times too. Plus what's with places putting hazzard tape over 2 out of 3 sinks to discourage handwashing? I thought we were meant to be washing more frequently and more thoroughly.

We were brought up to wash hands before eating, also it was enforced in primary school.
At home and at secondary school it was strictly enforced to wash hands before preparing food and after any interruptions where you touch something else. e.g. making a sandwich, stroke dog, wash hands again before returning to sandwich prep.

When DD was at Brownies, one badge was making tea for Mum. All parents arrived as the Brownies were playing games, some were sitting on the bare floorboards or playing games which involved touching the bare floorboards where everyone walked with shoes on, carrying any dirt from outside.
The Brownies were asked to stop playing and serve the 'high tea' which involved pouring orange juice into a mug, putting a cake on a plate and taking it to the parent.
No-one suggested the Brownies washed their hands before serving this delight to their parents. I grabbed my daughter out of the queue and said 'Let's wash our hands before we touch food or eat, shall we? I was the only parent that did.