British play a "steaming" prank on the Americans

The rumour is gaining traction on the social media network TikTok. It's said that at exactly 3pm every day, an alarm sounds throughout the United Kingdom, reminding citizens to drink their cup of tea.  

A joke that some Britons have extended by asserting that those who don't conform to this custom risk a fine or...a prison sentence, reports BFMTV.

Actor Michael Barrymore joins in, confessing in a video that he was filming his outfit when the "tea alarm" caught him by surprise, before he rushed to his cup of tea. Another user reveals his method to never miss tea while on the move: "I have the 'tea alarm' app, that way, no matter where I am in the world, I know when the alarm goes off."

Even the government plays along!

And by reading the comments of many naive users, particularly Americans, some Britons took the prank to the next level, indicates the media 20 Minutes. On TikTok, a woman recounts: "My neighbour complained because he only liked coffee. The next day, he mysteriously disappeared." "I have to go on a tea time awareness course for missing three alarms. Do you know what I should expect?" asks another, feigning fear.

Several official British companies and organisations followed suit, including the group Aldi UK, which filmed one of its employees preparing a cup of tea at exactly 3pm. For its part, British Airways even claimed to serve tea at 3 pm on each of its planes. Moreover, it was the British government that announced on its TikTok account that "changes will be made" to the famous "tea alarm".

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: 20 Minutes - Illustration: ©Unsplash)