Etiquette & taboos

Take five minutes to read this before you go. We sort local rules into three levels: red lines that are illegal or can get you refused entry, taboos that are legal but easily offend locals, and good manners that show respect. Every rule has a source and is marked as verified or not.

Red lineIllegal, or can get you refused entry · 85 rules TabooNot illegal, but easily offends locals · 23 rules Good mannersRespect local ways and earn a smile · 5 rules

Red lineRestaurants & barsEgypt

Egypt: drink only at licensed venues

Drink in licensed restaurants, bars or within resorts

Drinking in the street or other public places

Drinking outside licensed premises is illegal and can lead to arrest.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Egypt travel advice

Good mannersRestaurants & barsJapan

An izakaya's otoshi is a cover charge

Accept the otoshi as an appetiser

Arguing with staff about it or asking for it to be taken back

There is no penalty: before you order at an izakaya, a small dish of otoshi always arrives. It doubles as the cover charge and cannot be chosen or swapped.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: drinking in Japan