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Drinks Etiquette 101
Dinner parties , office parties, theme parties are a fun way to mingle, meet and greet. Most parties will serve some alcohol, cocktails, wine, champagne, digestive. If guests do not want to drink it is perfectly acceptable to have a cocktail drink with no alcohol, a Perrier/club soda with lemon or any juice or soft drink. Knowing some of the general drinks etiquette guidelines allows us to feel more comfortable and at ease when choosing a drink to go with our meal or at a pre dinner cocktail.
We are not expected to be wine experts or know every cocktail mix out there. Many of the fine high end restaurants have a sommelier as part of their service staff (a wine expert) that will advise patrons on what goes best with their choice of food. There is no need to be anxious or afraid to make a faux pas since the waiter / host or sommelier are on hand to provide the necessary expert advice.
Here are some drinks etiquette guidelines:
• Aperitif drinks are served before dinner or with appetizer usually any dry alcohol to stimulate appetite (dry sherry, dry champagne, pastis, campari, gin, vermouth, arak)
• Hard alcohol is never served during dinner (pre dinner cocktails serve hard alcohol such as vodka, gin, rum or any other spirit mixed with juice or soft drinks)
• White wine usually served with fish, pasta, salad, (appetizer course)
• Red wine served with red meat/ main dish course
• Champagne served with dessert course and at afternoon royal tea or dry champagne at aperitif
• Dessert wine is sweeter wine served with dessert 
• Tea or coffee served after dinner with dessert, to test if tea or coffee are hot or sweet enough take a small sip from your teaspoon to taste (only once) if too hot do nothing and wait for tea or coffee to cool, it is bad etiquette to try and cool your hot beverage
- Tea or coffee is served after dinner, however, for breakfast it can be served anytime
• Digestive usually alcohol that helps digestion served after dinner (usually strong dark alcohol, cognac, brandy, whisky, Grand Marnier, grappa, port, schnapps, liquors, kahlua, tequila, ouzo)
- Whatever the drink always take small sips
- Always make sure to finish what you are eating before you take a sip of your drink
- it is bad etiquette to stain glass with food, always wipe your lips delicately with the napkin to clean any food residue or sauce on your lips before taking a sip of drink
- Never tilt your head back while drinking
- While eating place your utensils down on your dinner plate (pause position) first then pick up your glass to drink
