Salads, bread, various plates of food on a table, with two people clinking wine glasses together.

Food For Thought: How Dining And Drinking Etiquette Varies Around The World

A country’s customs and traditions are rarely more on show than when people sit down to eat or drink. Whether it’s a Japanese tea ceremony, which places emphasis on the delicacy of each serving movement, or a lively Spanish tapas bar, where sharing small plates is part of a social ritual, there are various unspoken cultural norms and etiquette to consider.

When visiting or moving to another country, social rules can be daunting, especially as they vary so much from country to country. In 2023, we looked at general etiquette around the world, but this time, we’ve taken a deeper dive into how food and drink rules differ globally. What may be considered polite dining and drinking etiquette in one country could be interpreted differently - even as causing offence - in another. We do know that one universally polite etiquette rule is paying friends and family your share of the bill promptly, if they live abroad, remember you can send money with Remitly.

But before you lose your appetite, let’s dig in. Our experts have researched the world’s food and drink etiquette rules, looking at Google search results for ‘food and drink etiquette in [country]’ in 180 countries as well as researching hundreds of cultural guides and local tips on forums like Reddit, creating a handy resource for anyone travelling or moving abroad.

Key findings

Common mistakes that could cause offence are asking for a menu when ordering street food in Vietnam, mixing wasabi into soy sauce when eating sushi in Japan and asking what a meal contains or smelling it in Togo.
Tea and coffee etiquette is common around the globe and varies dramatically. Drinking milky coffee after 11am in Italy is frowned upon whilst tea is served in three stages in Niger, getting sweeter each round.
Most countries have specific etiquette when it comes to alcohol. It is illegal to be drunk in a pub in the UK whereas in Peru you can expect to share beer with friends from one glass.
Respecting your elders is often important in food and drink etiquette. In Thailand the eldest woman of the group orders for everyone whilst South Koreans turn their heads away from their elders when drinking to show respect.

World map detailing food and drink etiquette rules and cultural expectations in various countries

The world’s food and drink etiquette

Social and cultural norms for eating and drinking vary hugely from country to country. Some cultures will have a specific order in which people sit down to eat, others might think it rude to eat with cutlery instead of hands. Culinary etiquette changes frequently across borders.

Etiquette surrounding the consumption of tea and coffee comes into play across the globe. In Italy, drinking milky coffee after 11am is frowned upon, while in Croatia spending only 30 minutes with someone for coffee is considered rude. In Kazakhstan, you can expect a cup of tea that’s only half full, which might seem meagre to some, but not to Morroccans, who drink their tea from shot glasses.

Alcohol etiquette also features heavily: in the United Kingdom, being drunk in a pub is technically illegal, while in the UAE, you need a licence to drink at home. In Kenya, warm beer is drunk, in Uganda it’s consumed from the bucket through a straw, and in Peru, one beer in one glass is commonly shared among friends. iSalud!

When eating, foods that may seem unusual to some cultures are delicacies in others. The Dominican Republic enjoys ‘Nino envuelto’ or ‘swaddled babies’ of cabbage, beef and rice rolls. Atanga, a bush butter fruit, is boiled and then spread on baguettes for those in Gabon to feast upon. Snakes are a delicacy in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and over in Namibia, a cow’s stomach is considered a fantastic feast.

Food and drink etiquette rules in Africa

African nations have a plethora of food and drink norms that may be surprising to other continents. In Senegal and Rwanda, drinking and eating simultaneously is frowned upon, while in Malawi, it’s socially unacceptable for women to drink at all. The way each country eats can also vary: in the Central African Republic, it’s a sign of respect to eat with your hands, and in Mali, a meal is often eaten from a community bowl. In Mauritania, utensils are only used when eating western food. As eating with hands is common, each person dips three fingers into a bowl of perfumed water before each meal in Libya, and in Guinea, only the right hand is used for eating.

There are a variety of African drinks that can accompany meals or be enjoyed on their own. Sour milk is a delicacy in Lesotho and Eswatini, tea is served in three stages in Niger, getting sweeter with each round, and big glasses of wine are to be expected in South Africa.

Sushi platter with sauces, chopsticks, edamame, soy sauce, and napkins.

Food and drink etiquette rules in Asia

On the Asian continent, drinking practices are common: South Koreans turn their heads away from elders when drinking to display respect, while in Pakistan, guests shouldn’t pour their own drink, allowing the host or waiter to do so instead. It’s rude to decline a drink in Cambodia, you shouldn’t say thank you in India, while over in Bahrain, everything should be given and taken with the right hand, rather than the left.

Religious consumption etiquettes also apply: drinking, eating or smoking in Brunei is illegal during the fasting month and Saudi Arabian hosts must proclaim ‘Bismillah’ before the group eats or drinks, no matter the occasion. Mongolians do not drink on the first day of the month, while some people in the Philippines don’t begin drinking alcohol until they’ve made an offering to the spirits, usually by pouring a little of the drink on the ground.

Manners play a big part of eating etiquette in Asia. Eating in view of others without offering them some is rude in Nepal, as is eating while walking in Turkmenistan. In Thailand, the eldest woman of the group orders for everyone and in Kuwait, bringing a small gift when invited for a meal is customary.

There are specific cultural rules about Asian food itself of course such as never mixing wasabi into soy sauce when eating sushi in Japan. You should also make sure you come prepared with a sweet tooth in Uzbekistan as dessert is served at the beginning of the meal rather than the end! Vegetarians should also be vigilant in Bhutan as it’s common for many vegetable dishes to have dried meat in them.

Map of Europe detailing food and drink cultural norms and expectations in each country

Food and drink etiquette rules in Europe

Over in Europe, a plethora of dining rituals are observed. Armenians only accept an invitation to dine at someone’s house after the third offer, while bringing yellow flowers to dinner is frowned upon by Bulgarians, as they symbolise death and hatred. In Andorra and Belarus, keeping your hands on display while eating is important.

Drink-wise, it’s legal to make the highly distilled spirit, moonshine, at home in Romania, despite it being illegal in most other countries. Great Britain is famed for its pub culture, but a rather unknown law - Section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872 - makes it illegal to be found drunk in a public house or area, facing a £200 fine. It is, however, perfectly legal to steal the bride’s shoe and drink out of it at a wedding in Ukraine, and you can continue to order drinks in Finland, even if you’re quite literally under the table.

Food and drink etiquette rules in North & Central America

Rum is popular in North and Central America: rum punch is the signature drink in Granada, while classic rum is a favourite in Antigua and Barbuda. No matter the drink in Canada, it should be held at arm’s length while toasting, and if you’re eating with your drinks in Jamaica, it’s considered poor form to leave the table at any time.

When it comes to dining, Saturdays hold a particular place in Barbadian’s hearts and are reserved for special meals - often pudding and souse - a jellied loaf made with pig’s ears, feet, tongues and tails. Over in Costa Rica, rice is a staple that is eaten with every meal, while in the Bahamas, meals are usually served ‘buffet style’, with a variety of options on offer.

Food and drink etiquette rules in South America

South Americans observe a number of etiquette rules while dining. For example, it’s better to place food on the table next to guests, rather than handing it directly to them in Bolivia. In Colombia and Venezuela, eating with your hands is frowned upon - the latter even eats fruit with a knife and fork!

In Chile, the waiter won’t bring the bill until you ask for it, whereas in Suriname, there’s no set time for eating, so people eat whenever they want, rather than having traditional mealtimes. It’s common to say ‘enjoy your meal’ to fellow diners when walking through a restaurant in Ecuador, and you’ll never find mango and milk mixed together in a Brazilian restaurant, as it was once believed to be poisonous when combined.

Mexican mother and two daughters cooking in the kitchen together over a stovetop.

Food and drink etiquette rules in Oceania

While dehydration is common in the sun-soaked countries of the southern hemisphere, keep in mind that tap water isn’t safe to drink in Kiribati. You’ll also have to forgo some of your kava in Vanuatu, as spitting or pouring kava on the ground before drinking signifies the honouring of ancestors.

Countries in Oceania often share their food: in Tuvalu, the sharing of meals is common among neighbours; in Nauru, it’s considered polite to accept all food and drink offerings; and in New Zealand, barbeque hosts aren’t expected to provide all of the food and drink, as each guest should bring their own to share.

When dining out at a pub in Australia, be careful not to order a ‘coat of arms’ unless you know what you’re in for: a combination of kangaroo and emu on one plate. And, if your bowl is too full of Kava in Fiji and you just want a small taste of this traditional national drink, just ask for a ‘low tide’.

Methodology: How we researched the world’s food and drink etiquette

Remitly analysed Google search results that featured various phrases related to the etiquette of 180 countries across the world, such as ‘food and drink etiquette in [country]’. We also researched hundreds of cultural guides and local tips on forums like Reddit. Any countries that didn’t result in enough data to analyse were excluded from the research.

Content correct as of July 2024.