DRINK TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

DRINKING

Traditions Around the World

Drinking has always been associated with celebration and festivities when people get together to socialize and enjoy some booze. People across the globe have a range of preferences when it comes to their favourite liquor, some like to sip on whiskey or rum while others opt for vodka or beer.

Besides the type of liquor that people consume, what gets more fascinating is the way they consume it. Different regions of the world have some unique traditions of drinking with each one of them having some significance in their culture. While drinking has always been associated with festivities and celebrations, many cultures consider alcohol an integral aspect for their socialising.

Here are some of the strangest drinking traditions from across the world.

GERMANY

As per a widespread German tradition, there is pre-wedding drinking practice, where the groom’s best man is honoured with a task of mock kidnapping the bride-to-be, while leaving subtle hints for the groom. As per this tradition, the bride-to-be and her kidnapper can drink until the groom shows up to rescue his bride and pays the bill. Nowadays, this ritual is more common in villages.

FRANCE

In traditional French weddings, the bride and groom are sent to their room on the reception day. After this, the guests gather all the leftover food from the ceremony and then the newlywed couple are made to drink the mixture. It is believed that the ritual helps with the virility of the couple.

NETHERLANDS

In this European country, a tradition named ‘Kopstootje’ is quite famous which translates to ‘little headbutt’ in English. Going by the ritual, people have to gulp a whole glass of Genever, a traditional liquor served in a tulipshaped glass. However, the drink must be finished without using hands and one has to bend over to lift the glass with his/her mouth and then even gulp down a beer after it.

GEORGIA

The strangest thing about Georgian drinking customs is their interest in copious amounts of toasting. From friends and family to pets and fruits, Georgians are just elated to raise a toast to anything and everything.

But do note that they consider it bad luck if toasting is done with anything except wine or brandy. And, if a toast is raised with any other drink, it’s considered insulting to what is being toasted, thereby making the entire act an anti-toast.

CZECH REPUBLIC

People in the Czech Republic take their drinking traditions very seriously. Here, eye contact is a must while you are seated at a table and drinking. Moreover, crossing arms with anyone while lifting the glass to toast must be avoided at all costs, and spilling the drink is also considered a sin.

SPAIN

At the Haro Wine Festival in Northern Spain, though, guests show up with jugs, buckets, and other containers filled with wine for a fun-filled “battle.” While this summer festival has officially been taking place since 1965, the inspiration can be traced back to the 13th century when Haro started putting up purple banners on San Pedro’s Day to separate the town from the neighboring Miranda de Ebro. One year, this resulted in a celebratory wine war, a tradition that’s upheld today with the Batalla de Vino, or the Battle of Wine.

THAILAND

As per Thai culture, it is deemed rude to finish your drink. As such, one is expected to have a glass at least halffull during all times. However, this does not mean that drinking in Thailand is not meant for the faint hearted.

An average tourist might not get an opportunity to hang out with the tribe of Masaai warriors in Tanzania. However, if you are lucky enough to meet them, there are certain things you should be aware of. Masaai warrior’s drink of choice is honey mead or honey wine, which they mix with cow’s blood. This means, a cow is first injured with an arrow, then the blood that bleeds out is mixed with the wine. After that, the cow is taken care of and allowed to live. Do note, that this beverage is only reserved for special occasions.

MEXICO

During the bottling process, a ‘worm’ is sometimes posted into the mezcal in order to show that the alcohol is sufficient to preserve it. However, many are dubious of this claim and instead say that the bottling of the worm is simply a marketing ploy. The so-called ‘worm’ is actually a small grub which is either the larvae of a butterfly or moth.

SOUTH KOREA

As you may know, Korean society hinges on respect for seniors, and this respect carries over to the drinking arena. When drinking with a social group, the first glass of drink is poured by the most senior person at the table.

In Korea, the drink of choice is often soju or beer. For starters, a grapefruit soju from Jinro or Hite Extra Cold beer are some popular picks.

Japanese drinking etiquette is relatively similar to that of their Korean counterparts. You should not fill your own glass - if you wish to have a refill, offer a top up to your neighbour and they are more than likely to reciprocate the action. If you feel like you’ve had enough for the moment, leave your cup filled, and you’re likely to be given time to rest.

UKRAINE

Attendees at Ukrainian weddings get to see a very strange yet interesting drinking tradition where a guest tries to steal the shoe of the bride. If the guest manages to do so, he/she gets a chance to demand something from the other party in exchange for the shoe. Usually, this demand is to drink vodka from the shoe by placing a glass inside it.

ITALY

Italians only drink water or wine with their meals. Other beverages like beer or soda are concidered a no-no.

Toasting originated in the 17th century England. Spiced bread was added to wine to increase flavour and cut through the acidity

PORTUGAL

In order to decant port without disturbing the sediment and spoiling the wine, the Portuguese invented a theatrical way to open the bottle. It includes red-hot tongs and ice.

ICELAND

Icelanders love alcohol so much they dedicated two holidays to it. March 1st Beer day. But Verslunarmannahelgi in August is the drunkest weekend of the year.

HOLLAND

The Dutch have adopted the “head butt” method for drinking whiskey. The no hands process involves bending from the waist to take a sip, before straightenning up and chasing with beer.