Ten Tips For Drinking In Asia
September 25th, 2008 by Alex TanAlcoholic beverages are great ways to wind down, to celebrate a successful business transaction, or to socialize with new friends. Some social groups even require drinking from their potential associates, as a test of personality or just a ritual for joining the group. But Asian drinking etiquette differs from country to country, and Westerners may easily commit a grievous faux pas by failing to abide by the manners of their Eastern counterparts (and over-imbibing on the local brew won’t help matters).
So before partying down the streets of Tokyo, Seoul, or Kuala Lumpur, familiarize yourself on some helpful drinking behavior across Asia.
1. If you find yourself drinking in Korea or Japan in the company of locals, never pour your own drink. Always let your drinking mates pour your drink, and always pour others’ drink in return. When being served, hold the drink up, after which take a couple of sips before setting the glass down.
2. If a Korean elder pours your drink, the proper way to hold your glass is one hand holds the glass, the other hand holds the wrist of the drinking hand. This custom dates back when people wore traditional long-sleeved clothes and accidental spillage would frequently get the sleeves wet.
3. After taking a drink, be prepared to say, “KCCHSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!”
4. Expect a lot of bar-hopping to occur in Korea. The night’s usually not complete until several stops have been made in drinking establishments all throughout the city.
5. A common toast in China is “Gan Bei!”, which means “empty cup”. You don’t necessarily have to empty your glass after this toast; you may take a few sips before putting down your glass. Another common Chinese toast is “Yum Seng!”, which means “Finish drinking!”. The western equivalent of this is “Bottoms up!”
6. When a junior person toasts a senior, he touches the fingers of one hand to the bottom of the drinking glass while holding the glass with the other hand. To play safe, always perform this ritual as an act of humility. Maintain eye contact with the person you are toasting until you finish your speech.
7. You may politely refrain from drinking any more alcohol when you feel you’ve had enough. Many Chinese are strong drinkers and there’s no need to keep up with them.
8. If you find yourself in Muslim Southeast Asia and thirsty for alcohol, make friends with the local Chinese citizens. Don’t let your Muslim friends buy the beer, or even prepare the beer. And NEVER present your Muslim colleagues with alcoholic gifts, even if they are candies treated in alcohol.
9. Whether it’s Tiger Beer in Singapore, Tsingtao Beer in Shanghai, Kirin Beer in Tokyo, or San Miguel Beer in Manila, have a go with the local favorite. Don’t make a fuss when your favorite drink back home isn’t available in the stores. You didn’t travel all that way just to take a sip of home, did you?
10. Finally, never be that guy who gets stoned drunk and makes a fool of himself in the streets. You are still a visitor in any Asian city you visit, and the local residents have enough trouble from local carousers without having to deal with misbehaving out-of-town guests.
Exhibiting remnants of 7 ancient cities, is the capital city of India, 
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October 1st, 2008 at 5:26 pm
nothing beats san miguel beer.. woohoo! patronize your own
October 7th, 2008 at 6:12 am
# It is less common to pour one’s own drink in a social setting. Generally an individual will offer to pour a companion’s drink and the companion, in return, will pour the individual’s drink. Although if one of you is drinking from a bottle to glass and the other one is drinking just from a glass, it is fine to pour yourself because otherwise you will be in for a long wait.[2]
# Blowing one’s nose in public is a faux pas. Also, the Japanese do not use their handkerchief for hanakuso, which literally translates as “nose shit”