The Tea Habit

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30230, 7 September 1963, Page 3

The Tea Habit

Sir, —No doubt the ritual of morning and afternoon tea is a very agreeable feature of the national way of life; but one might suggest that it can be overdone. At certain business establishments, if a customer happens along during one of these sessions, it is made pretty clear that his visit is untimely. Those of us who have lived here long enough to know the form may not take it unkindly; but the effect on visitors from abroad can hardly be good propaganda. Again, though one does not grudge a cup of tea and slice of cake to anyone, when it comes to providing refreshments twice daily for two or three men working on the premises for perhaps some days, it is rather a different matter, especially as many of them i seem to expect this service on | the part of the householder: as their due.—Yours, etc., ILAM. September 6. 1963. ■ ■