Whether it’s coffee or alcohol, people enjoy various beverages all across the world. They do so in different ways, of course, and nearly every country has its own traditions. To avoid accidentally committing a social faux pas, here are a few interesting and unexpected drinking etiquette tips in five countries around the world.
Italy: Don’t Order Cappuccino in the Afternoon
As anyone who’s ever seen those viral videos of people breaking spaghetti in front of aghast Italians already knows, food is a way of life in Italy. This is equally true of coffee, which is unsurprising when you recall how many forms of it originated there: espresso, macchiato, and cappuccino, to name just a few.
If you try to order a cappuccino after 11 a.m. in Rome, however, you may get a funny look. It’s considered a morning drink due to the milk, and is usually consumed relatively quickly alongside a pastry or croissant. (Traditionally, breakfast in Italy is sweet rather than savory.)
Espressos and macchiatos, meanwhile, are meant to be savored and don’t have (much) added milk and sugar. This is rooted in practical concerns, as milk is considered difficult to digest — making it more suited to the morning, when your body has more time to process it.
Japan and South Korea: Don’t Pour Your Own Drink
Should you be lucky enough to find yourself sipping sake in Japan or soju in South Korea anytime soon, be sure not to pour your own glass. Instead, offer to pour for others — and expect that they’ll do the same for you.
This is a key part of etiquette in both countries, and it even has a specific term in Japan: shaku suru, also known as kumu. It makes drinking more social and interactive, ensuring that conversation flows as steadily as drinks. If you’re drinking with older people in South Korea, meanwhile, hold your drink with both hands while they pour for you and turn your body away from the elder when taking a shot.
Russia: Don’t Put a Glass on the Table Until It’s Empty
Vodka is an intrinsic part of Russian culture, where the average person drinks an average of more than 17 shots per month — more than any other country in the world. As you might expect, there are a number of customs to go along with all that history. For starters, Russians don’t actually say, “Na zdorovye!” when toasting. They don’t have a single equivalent to “cheers” at all, instead saying different phrases on different occasions.
Just as importantly, proper etiquette is to down your entire shot in one go. Don’t put a glass on the table unless it’s empty, and put empty bottles on the floor rather than on the table. And for as harsh as some consider the taste of vodka, in Russia, it’s almost always consumed neat rather than mixed.
China: Respect Your Elders
Chinese drinking culture can be summed up by the famous proverb “jiǔ féng zhījǐ qiān bēi shǎo,” which translates loosely to “with a close friend, a thousand cups of wine is far too little.” Another important term is “ganbei” — it means “empty cup” and is used for toasting.
As in many aspects of Chinese culture, respecting one’s elders is of the utmost importance when drinking. Never raise your own glass higher than theirs when clinking your glass against theirs during a toast. And if you’re toasting several people during a special occasion, start with the oldest person first.
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