How to Drink Like a Local:
The Global Connoisseur's Guide

From Tokyo's hidden izakayas to Paris' neighborhood wine bars, drinking like a local is the ultimate traveler's skill. We reveal the insider protocols, unspoken rules, and secret orders that will have bartenders nodding with approval across six continents.

1. Asia's Drinking Traditions Decoded

Japan

  • Never pour your own drink (always watch companions' glasses)
  • Say "kanpai" with eye contact and slightly bowed head
  • Order: Highball whisky at standing bars in Golden Gai

South Korea

  • Receive shots with two hands (right hand holding, left supporting elbow)
  • Turn away when drinking soju with elders
  • Order: Bokbunja (black raspberry wine) in traditional hanok

Singapore

  • "Kopitiam" coffee orders: "Kopi-C" = coffee with evaporated milk
  • Hawker center etiquette: No tipping, return trays
  • Order: Tiger beer with chili crab at Lau Pa Sat

2. European Drinking Rituals

France

  • Morning espresso: Drink standing at the bar (cheaper)
  • Wine ordering: "Un verre de vin maison" for best house pour
  • Secret: Ask for "un petit jaune" for a pastis

Italy

  • Cappuccino only before 11am
  • Aperitivo hour: Campari soda with free snacks 6-8pm
  • Pro move: Order "un cicchetto" for Venetian tapas-style drinking

Germany

  • Beer toast: Maintain eye contact or risk bad sex
  • Maß drinking: Never put half-liter stein down until empty
  • Order: Radler (beer-lemonade) for afternoon refreshment

3. The Americas' Local Secrets

USA

  • Bourbon country: Ask for "neat with a water back"
  • Dive bars: Cash only, tip $1 per drink
  • Order: Martini means gin unless specified otherwise

Mexico

  • Tequila protocol: Lick salt from hand, not glass rim
  • Cantina culture: Some still men-only until evening
  • Order: Raicilla (tequila's smokier cousin)

Argentina

  • Fernet con Coca ratio: 30/70 is standard
  • Wine sharing: Always pour for others first
  • Order: Torrontés white wine in Salta

4. Middle Eastern & African Customs

Turkey

  • Raki ritual: Dilute with ice/water, pair with meze
  • Tea culture: Refuse twice before accepting
  • Order: Narince white wine at Istanbul's new wine bars

South Africa

  • Braai drinking: Castle lager with boerewors
  • Township etiquette: Share a bucket of amahewu
  • Order: Pinotage at Stellenbosch wine farms

Morocco

  • Mint tea: Pour from height to aerate
  • Hidden bars: Look for unmarked doors in Casablanca
  • Order: Mahia (fig spirit) in Jewish quarters

5. The Executive's Drinking Toolkit

Essential Phrases

  • "What do locals drink here?" in 15 languages
  • "No ice" gestures to avoid watered-down spirits
  • Universal cheers: Maintain eye contact, clink base of glasses

Luxury Experiences

  • Private saké brewing in Kyoto
  • Cognac blending sessions at Rémy Martin
  • Speakeasy tours with NYC bartenders

Packing Tips

  • Stainless steel flask (empty through security)
  • Vade Mecum cocktail kit
  • Wine Wings protectors for bottles

Global Drinking Calendar

  • Feb: Rio Carnival (caipirinhas)
  • Jun: Munich's Starkbierfest
  • Oct: Beaujolais Nouveau release

Hi Guest, what's your favorite local drinking ritual discovered abroad? Share your stories with our global community on PrestigeFly.

"To drink like a local isn't about alcohol—it's about understanding a culture's heartbeat in liquid form." — Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Award-Winning Bartender

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