# Why do the British bring grapes to people "in hospital"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379 "2024-06-26T23:13:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/21 "2024-06-27T12:50:27Z")
This is one of those things that you learn about, and then you notice it all the time. It first came to our attention when we saw a British police series episode where the office goes into her superior’s office and sees grapes on the desk. Her immediate question was, “Grapes? Who’s in hospital?” ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/22 "2024-06-27T12:54:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > My daughter (a nurse) worked in an inner city hospital in Virginia in the OB department. It was very common to find empty Courvoisier bottles in rooms. That’s very specific! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/23 "2024-06-27T13:23:41Z")
It was strange. On the ground floor of the hospital they actually housed a police facility. There was drama involving women who gave birth, then multiple men claiming they were the father would show up to visit. Fights erupted and police responded. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/24 "2024-06-27T13:34:19Z")
The first thing that came to my mind!! 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/25 "2024-06-27T14:00:01Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Because you’re in hospital and supposed to be working on getting better! So eating healthy food. Well, I’m always thankful to have a little chocolate in the hospital as a distraction from the bland hospital food. Little quantities don’t do damage, and it’s good for your mental well-being, chocolate makes happy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/26 "2024-06-27T14:13:37Z")
What’s unhealthy about chocolate? Alcohol I get, but I can’t see it as being any worse than grapes, which are all sugar practically. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/27 "2024-06-27T14:15:12Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > More thoughtful than the alternative of hard boiled eggs and nuts You know I can’t eat hard-boiled eggs and nuts. You sir have won the thread with this. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/28 "2024-06-27T14:21:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > What’s unhealthy about chocolate? Well, it’s basically just sugar and fat, and for some people with already bad eating habits too much chocolate isn’t a good thing, but I also don’t see how for a non-overweight person who’s not on a special diet, chocolate in moderation might be unhealthy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/29 "2024-06-27T14:23:08Z")
Sure, but how much chocolate does one eat at a sitting? Not a hell of a whole lot. Or at least not me. I’d probably eat more in sugar of the grapes than I would of the chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/30 "2024-06-27T14:34:30Z")
Plus, chocolate is actually recommended if the reason you’re in hospital is because you’re recovering from a [dementor](https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Dementor) attack. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/31 "2024-06-27T16:42:31Z")
Another trope/meme/stereotype/cliche is that the visitors who bring the grapes/chocolate/whatever will probably eat most of it ! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/32 "2024-06-27T17:07:43Z")
Never heard of this before! Thinking it’s a brilliant idea, though and will, from now on, def take grapes to people in hospital. Also, if I’m in hospital, please DO bring me grapes. I love grapes and will be delighted, I promise. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/33 "2024-06-27T17:22:07Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Never heard of this before! Just asked my gf and she never heard of it. She initially thought I was joking, I had to show her online mention of it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/34 "2024-06-27T17:33:34Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Another trope/meme/stereotype/cliche is that the visitors who bring > the grapes/chocolate/whatever will probably eat most of it ! I learned that from David Lodge’s _Therapy_. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/35 "2024-06-27T17:52:34Z")
Grapes because you can spit the seeds into a bedpan. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/36 "2024-06-27T19:09:22Z")
I eat lots of grapes, but haven’t had one with seeds in decades. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/37 "2024-06-27T21:37:10Z")
No chocolate because the nurses will undoubtedly confiscate it. What happens to it later is anyone’s guess… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/38 "2024-06-28T05:08:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I eat lots of grapes, but haven’t had one with seeds in decades. I do. I love the big fat juicy red ones, seeds and all if the seeds are soft/small enough. If they’re too conspicuous I’ll switch to seeded red ones. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/39 "2024-07-01T17:34:38Z")
I first found references of bringing grapes in the **Rivers of London** series. So if it’s a cliché, it’s a current cliché. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379/40 "2024-07-01T17:55:29Z")
I have no idea how recent it is, but it certainly pops up in current TV shows. And I understand why grapes might be a good gift to bring to someone in the hospital (compact, sweet, no peels or seeds, etc.), but it seems to me that this goes beyond the practical aspect to the “strong association” of one with the other. I wouldn’t call it an established tradition, but it is certainly close based on what I see and read. When a person sees you have grapes and immediately assumes someone is in the hospital, that’s pretty compelling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-british-bring-grapes-to-people-in-hospital/1003379.md?page=3)