Global Dining and Drinking Customs, Illustrated

When considering table manners, most people immediately think of basics like avoiding elbows on the table or chewing quietly.

However, exploring dining customs worldwide reveals a rich tapestry of unique rules and traditions. From peculiar local laws to time-honored culinary practices, every culture has its own approach to mealtime. A recent study has highlighted some of the most intriguing global dining etiquette, showcasing everything from regional regulations to cherished generational traditions.

Remitly, a finance platform, conducted extensive research using Google, Reddit, and guidebooks to uncover dining and drinking customs across 180 countries. Their findings were compiled into a comprehensive global analysis, complete with an interactive world map. The study covers diverse topics, including tea and coffee rituals, unique cuisines, utensil usage, and even cultural attitudes toward alcohol consumption.

Analyzing the data by continent revealed fascinating regional patterns. Europe, the only area with a dedicated map, boasts a variety of traditions and etiquette rules related to alcohol consumption. For instance, in the Czech Republic, covering your drink with a coaster signals that you’ve had enough, preventing a host from refilling your glass. In the UK, being intoxicated in a pub is technically against the law under Section 12 of the 1872 Licensing Act, while in Scotland, wearing underwear under a kilt could cost you two beers as a penalty.

Europe’s focus isn’t solely on alcohol. In Spain, it’s advised to avoid drinking water with soup or octopus, while in Italy, ordering milky coffee after 11 a.m. is considered improper.

Alcohol-related customs appear in many global traditions. In Canada, toasts are made with glasses held at arm’s length. In Peru, friends share a single glass of beer, while in Bolivia, married women are limited to one glass of wine in bars. In Malawi, women are culturally discouraged from drinking alcohol entirely.

In Africa, dining etiquette often revolves around how food and drinks are served and consumed. In Rwanda, eating and drinking at the same time is discouraged. Mauritania diners use utensils only for Western-style meals, and in Libya, it’s customary to dip three fingers into perfumed water before eating.

Religious customs shape many Asian dining traditions. In Brunei, eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited during fasting periods. In the Philippines, some avoid alcohol until an offering is made to spirits by pouring a portion on the ground. Mongolians abstain from drinks on the first day of each month. In Nepal, eating without sharing is considered rude, while in Turkmenistan, eating while walking is frowned upon. South Koreans turn their heads away from elders when drinking.

In South America, Suriname has no fixed mealtimes, allowing people to eat whenever they choose. In Bolivia, food is placed beside guests rather than handed directly to them.

Cultural dining practices can vary dramatically across the globe. In the Central African Republic, eating with your hands is a gesture of respect, while in Colombia, using your hands for any meal is seen as impolite—even fruit is eaten with utensils in Venezuela. As the study notes, using a knife and fork for pizza in New York is deemed “unforgivable.”

The analysis also highlights unique local dishes, such as cow’s stomach in Namibia, a jellied “souse” loaf made from pig parts in Barbados, cooked snakes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and atanga fruit on baguettes in Gabon. In Switzerland, dropping bread into fondue requires paying a playful forfeit.

Many of these customs may seem unusual to outsiders, but the study aims to prepare travelers and expats for the dining etiquette they might encounter abroad. Understanding these traditions, no matter how strange they may seem, can help visitors adapt and connect with their hosts more effectively.