You might have seen the BBC Breakfast show piece yesterday morning on coffee shop manners, in which our own William Hanson participated in a lively discussion about coffee shop manners.

Nowadays, we are all in such a supposed rush, and people think little about talking on their mobiles in public, texting, tweeting and checking emails.  It is easy to get carried away when queuing, and waiting to be served for a takeaway coffee is no different.  But surely we should remember that the people serving behind the counter deserve our respect too?  It rarely is a matter of life and death whether we take a call, but if a really urgent call comes in just as you reach the head of the queue or whilst you are being served, either say ‘excuse me’ to the barista – first – and then ask the caller to wait for just a moment whilst you move to a quiet spot – or call them back within two minutes. Put yourself in the shoes of the barista.  If you were serving behind a counter and a customer ignored you in favour of pushing buttons on his phone, wouldn’t you feel just a little miffed? Basic courtesies should follow every step:  your order, paying, and then delivery.  A simple please and thank you will do – no need to have a long discussion about global warming. When you have purchased your drink, sit down in a quiet corner and make the call, or better still go out of the coffee bar.  As William’s co-guest said yesterday morning on the BBC, in the old days one might have read a newspaper instead of sending a text or email.  Try it!

Talking of queueing, manners are deteriorating here too.  They seem to go off the scale now as we wait in line and crowds increase, and particularly if we have a self regulating order and no barriers.  Remember your manners on the move; queue quietly, in line and in an orderly fashion.  You might even start up a conversation with someone and make a friend.

Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself, and have just a few minutes without being glued to the phone.