Scots are the most generous at the bar

The stereotype of Scots as penny pinchers could be coming to an end, after new research revealed they are the most generous round buyers in the UK.

The Great British Pub Report, commissioned by Greene King, has found that just under two thirds of Scots are happy to pay for a round at the bar, while only a quarter of Southerners are willing to do the same.

Overall one in four Brits are happy to buy rounds, even for people they don't know very well, and 27 per cent said they did not mind if they were not bought a drink in return.

The 25-34 year old age group was singled out as the most generous when buying rounds, while 18-24 year olds are the least likely to offer.

Rooney Anand, Greene King's chief executive, said: "Pubs have a tradition that goes back centuries, and while many of these traditions are evolving and changing over time, some elements of pub etiquette such as the practice of round buying remain very important to modern pub culture - particularly north of the border, as the findings show."

The study, carried out by anthropologist Kate Fox, also investigated the role of the pub in 21st century Britain and found that they play an essential role in keeping local communities, family relationships and social networks alive.

Many Britons said that pubs are now responsible for boosting family life particularly when it comes to getting different generations together, and 40 per cent of those questioned said they would rather host a family get together in a pub than at home.