Drink

As you might expect, this section doesn t deal with the question of carbonated as opposed to non-carbonated drinks; few people get involved in discussions of the relative merits of soda versus lemonade. However, feelings can run very high when the subject turns to alcoholic drinks.

People get passionate about drinks ”the Spaniards and Italians love their wines, the French call brandy eau de vie (the water of life), while the Scots can talk for hours about the relative merits of single malt and blended whiskies. However, to certain Christian sects, as well as to Sikhs and Muslims, alcohol is absolutely taboo. Its sale and possession are outlawed in several countries , such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, and from 1919 until 1933 the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal in the United States. Why?

One reason is that people under the influence of alcohol do not follow the rules of normal behavior of their culture or religion. They may temporarily forget the usual constraints on the way they think or behave, and this can cause trouble. You just have to think of the behavior of drunken English soccer fans in Europe or the deaths and injuries caused

by drunk drivers in most countries of the world to understand what I mean. Alcohol abuse can also be a major problem for companies and can result in accidents at work, reduced efficiency, and absenteeism when someone has a hangover. However, these financial losses pale when you consider the damage to a company s reputation that can result from a representative over-indulging during a social occasion. Irreparable damage can be done to both individual reputations and customer relations. And I know of few large corporations where this hasn t happened at one time or another.

Yet this lowering of normal barriers can also have positive results. Otherwise reserved, shy, or and inhibited people may feel it easier to express themselves once they ve had a glass of wine or a pint or two of beer. The ancient Romans had a saying, in vino veritas (there is truth in wine), and alcohol can help people break out of the constraints imposed by work or social roles to speak more honestly and behave more openly than they would normally. Because of this, in countries as far apart as South Africa, South Korea, and Russia, social drinking is regarded as a good way for people to relax and get to know each other. It s a matter of degree, though. The boundary between behavior that is warm and frank and offensive and aggressive is a fine one, and individuals vary greatly in how they act when they have been drinking.

Unfortunately, this happy state of affairs, where colleague or customers learn to get to know each other over saki or scotch, applies only to half of the population. Businessmen who drink a lot with suppliers or customers are usually regarded as being sociable, while a businesswoman doing the same thing is regarded in many, perhaps most, societies as showing a lack of judgment and even poor moral character. This is grossly unfair, of course, but businesswomen , whether working at home or abroad, are used to being judged more critically than men (but this doesn t mean they like or accept it).

LETTERS 52 “53

Specific rules and traditions are often associated with social drinking.

Pass the glass Letter 52

FROM BELGIUM ABOUT SOUTH KOREA

I know that drinking is an important part of both social and business life in South Korea. I ve also heard that there are quite strict rules involved. Can you give me some of the more important ones?

Most South Korean men believe that the best way to get to know someone is to drink with him. (I say men, as businesswomen, whether South Korean or not, are not included in such drinking parties.) There are several well-kept rules, one of which is that the host of the event will first offer a glass to the most honored person. If this guest is much older, or very senior, the glass will be offered with two hands or with the right hand supported by the left. The person receives the glass in the same way, that is, either with both hands or with the right hand supporting the left one. The host will then pour the wine or spirits. As the drinking continues, all the guests are offered a glass, and when they finish the wine or spirits they give the empty glass to another person. During the evening everyone ensures he exchanges glasses with every other guest. Two things one shouldn t do are to add alcohol to a glass that is already filled or to fill one s own glass. The same is true in Japan.

Pub etiquette Letter 53

FROM CANADA ABOUT THE U.K.

I ve read that when in England one should always buy rounds in pubs, even at lunch , meaning that you buy for the whole group you are with. That must mean that everyone consumes a lot of alcohol. I m not used to drinking much and am worried how I ll manage.

Relax. It s true that the tradition is to take turns buying for the group you came in with, but there s certainly no law to say that what you consume must be the locally brewed killer beer or whisky. It s perfectly acceptable to order soft drinks or low-alcohol beer instead. The purpose of the exercise is not to drink each other under the table but literally to give and take, and as such it s not good to stay outside the round. If offered a drink, it s regarded as bad manners to say that you only fancy a tomato juice and you ll buy it yourself, thank you. And once you re in the round you don t have to accept another drink if you haven t finished the first one. Buying rounds is all about reciprocity, and it s not good for your relationships with the British or Australians if you re seen as either antisocial or plain mean with money. It s much better to buy one round too many yourself than to risk being thought tight-fisted.

And don t worry if one lunchtime or evening everyone doesn t have the opportunity to buy the others a drink. British people have an automatic drinks counter programmed into their brains , so they ll remember the next time you go to the pub whose round it should be. The only problem is that businesswomen might find it hard to be allowed to buy their round because of Britishmen s chivalry or chauvinism (the alternative you choose depends on your point of view). If this is a regular occurrence, reciprocate later by buying a small present ”a plant for the office or a box of chocolates to be shared by the department.

LETTERS 54 “56

Drinking alcohol always carries the risk of drunkenness. Indeed, this may be the whole point of the exercise!

Nomunication Letter 54

FROM TURKEY ABOUT JAPAN

A colleague recently back from Japan talked about nomunication , but I don t understand fully what it means. It s something to do with drinking, isn t it?

It is indeed. Nomunication comes from a combination of the Japanese verb nomu , to drink, and the English word communication , and it refers to the process of socializing and communicating when drinking. Japanese companies often organize nomikai (drinking parties) for their employees a few times a year. These are regarded not only as opportunities for drunken revelry but also as important occasions for building team spirit. The process of drinking is actually more important than what you drink, so you can stick to tea if you want as long as you continue to pour sake, beer, or whiskey into the glasses of your Japanese colleagues. These parties also give employees a chance to communicate with the boss, who may otherwise be a distant and unapproachable figure. Work issues that cannot be raised in the very formal atmosphere of the office may be freely discussed here, and managers have a chance to find out what s really on their employees minds.

The sober truth Letter 55

FROM THE U.S. ABOUT RUSSIA

I ve been talking to a colleague who just came back from Russia, and he s been telling me about the amount of drinking that goes on there ”and I don t mean Coca-Cola! How on earth does business ever get done if everyone s drunk all the time?

Most Russians are certainly not puritanical when it comes to alcohol, and it plays an important part in their social life in the same way that it does for businessmen in Poland, Japan, China, and South Korea. Sharing a few drinks may well help to build bridges between people, but having said that, it is certainly not compulsory to get blind drunk at every meeting!

Russians are hospitable folk and may well invite their Western guest out to dinner, and at every restaurant a bottle of vodka will almost certainly be on the table. After opening the bottle , the custom is that it will be finished (in part because many bottles don t have resealable caps). Vodka is poured into tiny glasses and drunk in one go, not sipped. At dinner there will always be toasts and speeches (you may want to prepare one for such an occasion), and if you don t want to over-indulge, drink only during the toasts. Otherwise, drink the fruit juice or water that will also be available. And make sure you eat, otherwise you certainly will get drunk.

A Russian friend said to me recently that at parties and dinners it is often the Western businessperson rather than the Russian who gets drunk, simply because the constant availability of all this alcohol is too much for his or her judgment. Another interpretation is that most visitors simply aren t used to the local vodka. However, it is ultimately up to foreign visitors , not the Russian hosts , to moderate their intake and to ensure that their judgment and their ability to function efficiently the next day at work are not affected.

Drink until you drop Letter 56

FROM ITALY ABOUT CHINA

I ll be going to China for the first time soon with a group of colleagues, and I m reading a number of books about the country. In one book it says that a good host in China will try to get his guest drunk. In Italy we regard drunkenness as the ultimate in bad manners.

There is always the possibility of culture clash with such different attitudes to the same phenomenon . In your own country, and indeed in the wine-drinking cultures of the Mediterranean and South America in general, it is unusual to see open drunkenness in the streets or restaurants , and as you say, getting even mildly drunk is seen as the behavior of boors.

In China, guests are often invited out for meals or banquets. These are important social occasions, and they are usually incomplete without beer, rice wine, or spirits. Generally , the more everyone drinks, the more friendly and open they become as shyness diminishes. The same applies in Japan and South Korea, as well as the Sweden-Finland-Russia beer and vodka belt, where alcohol helps these naturally rather reserved people communicate with each other. However, if you feel you can be friendly and open without alcohol, so much the better. Just make sure you leave a little of whatever you re drinking at the bottom of your cup or glass as an indication that you don t want any more.

LETTERS 57 “58

Laws and traditions regulating the sale or intake of alcohol vary from country to country. It s good to be aware of just how different these may be to those you know at home.

Still Puritans? Letter 57

FROM FRANCE ABOUT THE U.S.

I m going to work in the U.S. soon and have heard that there are extremely strict rules regarding drinking there. Is that true?

The U.S. is a big place, and different states and companies have different rules. In general, the attitude to drinking alcohol (including wine and beer) during working hours is certainly more negative than in France, where a glass or two of wine at lunchtime is the norm rather than the exception. You will find the rules just as strict if you travel north to Scandinavia, rather than west to the U.S., and if you venture to Muslim countries, or countries with large Muslim populations, it may be impossible to buy wine or alcoholic drinks at all. There are also differences in the opinions of physicians from different countries about what is regarded as acceptable intakes of alcohol, and Europeans applying for jobs in the U.S. who admit to drinking a little over a bottle of wine a day (not unusual in many Southern European countries) have been rejected on health grounds.

I must add that both McDonald s restaurants in France and restaurants in Disneyland Paris serve wine, but this isn t the case back home in the U.S. I suppose it s a case of When in Rome . . .

Why not wine? Letter 58

FROM SPAIN ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA

I ll be traveling to Saudi Arabia soon to meet our local representative. I know that here in Spain he enjoyed our local wines and wondered if I should take him a bottle.

That s not a good idea. The Saudi kingdom, with an almost 100 percent Muslim population, strictly prohibits alcohol. Although your representative enjoyed your excellent Spanish wines when in Spain, he certainly wouldn t want you to get in trouble by smuggling it into the country. Nor would he want to risk breaking the law himself, or risk his fellow countrymen finding out that he had broken one of the rules of their religion. The same would apply if we were talking about any Muslim nation, like Indonesia or Pakistan, but this applies particularly to Saudi Arabia, which has the strictest anti-alcohol laws in the world. Foreigners who are found guilty of running illegal alcohol operations face imprisonment and flogging under strict Islamic laws, and for Saudis themselves the punishments can be even more stringent.

IN A NUTSHELL: Drink

GLOBAL BUSINESS STANDARD

Drink if you must, but stop before you start to lose control. It is a wise person who knows his or her limits.

GLOBAL WARNINGS

Alcoholism is a sickness with a high personal and corporate cost. People living and working alone in a foreign culture with unfamiliar drinking traditions and (perhaps) cheap and available alcohol are particularly at risk.

If you are female , don t drink much (even if you could drink every man in the party under the table). Women who drink more than a sip or two will be judged more harshly than men. It may also be inappropriate for them to offer a toast .

Their religion forbids Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and

Buddhists from drinking alcohol, but some believers may not interpret these laws strictly.

 

• Argentina: It is among the top wine producers (and consumers) in the world. (See Letter 56.)

• Australia: Australians produce their own wines and beer. Going out to a bar or pub for drinks with colleagues or guests is common. The tradition typically includes each person paying for a round of drinks for everyone in the group. (See Letter 53.)

• Austria: Austria produces its own wines and beers. Austrians are the second biggest beer consumers in the world (after the Czech Republic).

• Belgium: This little country produces its own beers ”over 300 different kinds! (See Letter 52.)

• Brazil: Alcohol (wine or beer) is commonly served at both lunch and dinner, but public drunkenness is uncommon. (See Letter 56.)

• Canada: Wine is popular with the French Canadian community. (See Letter 53.)

• China: Getting drunk together (for men) is seen as creating a bond and as a step toward getting to know each other better. At a banquet, if the Chinese host proposes a toast, the guest should reciprocate. (See Letters 55 and 56.)

• Denmark: Social drinking in pubs ( krogar ) is popular after work and on weekends. Danes are big beer drinkers. At meals, wait until everyone has said sk l before drinking.

• Finland: Lots of beer is drunk in saunas, and vodka is drunk with meals. (See Letters 56 and 57.)

• France: Drunks are rarely seen in public, even though much alcohol is consumed. Drunkenness is strongly disapproved of. Wine is often drunk at lunchtime. The French have the second highest wine consumption (per head) in the world. (See Letter 57.)

• Germany: Toasting is an important aspect of business dining in Germany. Don t start drinking without a toast. When raising a glass for the first drink, say Prost . Everyone must reply. Germany produces its own ( mainly white) wines, beer, and schnapps. Germans are the third biggest beer consumers in world.

• Hong Kong: See China.

• India: The majority of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists do not drink for religious reasons. (See Letter 57.)

• Indonesia: See India. (See Letters 57 and 58.)

• Italy: Drunks are rarely seen in public here, even though much alcohol is consumed. Wine is often drunk at lunchtime. Drunkenness is strongly disapproved of. Italy has the highest rate of wine consumption (per head) in the world. (See Letter 56.)

• Japan: Getting drunk together (for men) is seen as creating a bond and as a step toward getting to know each other better. You should always fill your companions glasses, never your own. (See Letters 52, 54, 55, and 56.)

• Mexico: Visitors should be aware that high altitudes (in Mexico City, for example) can exaggerate the effects of alcohol.

• Netherlands: The Dutch produce their own beers.

• Norway: There are strict (unwritten) rules about not drinking during the working day. (See Letter 57.)

• Poland: Getting drunk together (for men) is seen as creating a bond and as a step toward getting to know each other better. (See Letter 55.)

• Russia: Getting drunk together (for men) is seen as creating a bond and as a step toward getting to know each other better. Toasts are usually long and heartfelt. If you are host or a special guest, prepare a toast in advance. Vodka is often an accompaniment to food. (See Letters 55 and 56.)

• Saudi Arabia: Alcohol is strictly forbidden for religious reasons. (See Letters 57 and 58.)

• South Africa: Drinking with colleagues and guests at both lunch and after work is quite common. Bars are mainly male preserves . Wines and beers are locally produced.

• South Korea: Most drinking takes place after work and during meals. Getting drunk together (for men) is seen as creating a bond and as a step toward getting to know each other better. (See Letters 52, 55, and 56.)

• Spain: Drunks are rarely seen in public here even though much alcohol is consumed. Drunkenness is strongly disapproved of. Wine is often drunk at lunchtime and in the evenings. (See Letters 56 and 58.)

• Sweden: There are strict rules about not drinking during the working day. There are also strict rules governing toasting in more formal gatherings where they drink snaps (vodka). Don t drink until the host has said sk l . (See Letters 56 and 57.)

• Switzerland: Drunkenness is strongly disapproved of. After the toast has been proposed, look at your host, raise your glass, and say To your health (or you may say prost in the German-speaking region, sant in the French-speaking region, or salute in the Italian-speaking region). Drink after you have responded to the toast and have touched glasses with everyone present. Switzerland has the fourth highest consumption (per head) of wine in world.

• Taiwan: See China.

• Thailand: Beer or rice whisky is drunk, but drinking is generally less heavy than in South Korea and Japan.

• Turkey: Although a Muslim country, the sale and consumption of alcohol is not forbidden. However, it s not easy to find outside large cities. (See Letter 57.)

• UK: Buying rounds in pubs is seen as a way of being sociable. This country spends the second highest total amount on alcoholic drinks after Ireland. (See Letter 53.)

• US: The U.S. is a large-scale producer of wines and beers. There are restrictive laws governing alcohol purchase and consumption. You have to be over twenty-one to buy alcohol. (See Letters 55 and 57.)

• Venezuela: Beer is popular. Rum, produced in the region, is widely drunk. (See Letter 56.)