Is the British Tea Time Alarm Real? Behind the Joke

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Learn why UK creators claim there’s a nationwide tea alarm

Co-authored by Nicole Wilson and Bailey Bujnosek, BA

Last Updated: April 30, 2025 Fact Checked

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Tea Alarm Meaning

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Is the British tea time alarm real?

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Do British people love tea?

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We all know that tea is a big part of British culture, but the viral tea-time alarm takes the obsession to a new level. According to TikTok users across the UK, there’s a nationwide alarm that goes off every day, forcing people to drop what they’re doing and drink tea or risk being fined. Is this really a thing? Keep reading for an explanation of the viral joke that reflects the British sense of humour to a tea .

What is the tea alarm?

The tea alarm is a meme poking fun at how British people take tea time seriously. The meme spread on TikTok in 2023 and 2024, with British content creators claiming an alarm went off every day around 3 pm forcing them to drop everything and drink English tea—or be fined. It’s not real, just a viral joke.

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Tea Alarm Meaning

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The tea alarm is a fake alarm telling British people it’s time for tea. The joke began on TikTok, as users claimed that in the UK, there’s a nationwide tea-time alarm that goes off every day around 3 or 4 pm. Supposedly, when you hear the alarm, you must drop everything and drink a cup of tea. Otherwise, the British government will fine you. ^{[1]
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- Content creators, brands, and celebrities have made videos about the tea alarm, pretending it’s real. ^{[2]
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- Several videos about the tea alarm claim the alarm sound comes from 5G cell towers. ^{[3]
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