Drinking Etiquette

Drinking is an important part of Georgian culture. After all, the oldest evidence of wine making was discovered here. Wine is far more important than any other alcohol. Wine is associated with cultural and religious traditions, beer is secondary and holds no ritualistic connotations. Georgians are incredibly hospitable, and wine plays an essential part in that hospitality. You should expect to be offered wine when spending time with Georgians. Be prepared to drink at least one glass, refusing the first glass might be considered impolite. You can say no after that, but you might need to negotiate your way out of a heavy session.

Drinking alcohol, but particularly wine is rarely a pastime in itself. For Georgians, drinking is closely associated with food. Women are not required or indeed expected to keep pace with men's consumption. Men, however, had better have a good head for what they drain; their manliness - and the judgment of a traveler's manliness - depends upon it.

While some of the more important toasts require drinking your glass to the bottom as a sign of respect, the traditions of the Georgian table space the drinking out over the course of the meal. Here are the rules. You cannot drink until the tamada (toastmaster) has made his toast and drunk. Only then, and usually in order around the table, can other revelers echo the toast and drink. Never propose a different toast unless you are given permission: that is an offense to the tamada.