Etiquette & taboos

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6 rules found

Cultural sensitivitiesRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · United Kingdom

UK: Order at the bar and take turns buying rounds

Do

Order and pay at the bar; British pubs rarely offer table service
In a group, take turns buying a round of drinks for everyone
Name the drink and size, such as a pint of lager, not just "a beer"
To thank the bar staff, you can add "and one for yourself" to your order

Don’t

Don't keep accepting drinks without ever buying a round
Don't dither when ordering; others are waiting behind you

Nobody will penalise you, but drinking without buying is seen as freeloading. If you leave before your turn, make sure you buy the first round next time you are out together.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Matador Network: English pub rules

Cultural sensitivitiesRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Ramen shops: queue once your group is complete, one bowl each, leave promptly

Do

Join the end of the line only when your whole group is there; sign in first if there is a list
Check whether you order at a ticket machine or at your seat, and carry cash
Order one bowl per person (infants excepted)
Put your belongings on the shelf or hook by your seat, clear of the aisle
Slurping is normal in Japan, so don't feel self-conscious
Leave soon after finishing so the next person in line can sit

Don’t

Don't stand next to diners to hurry them
Don't share one bowl among several people
Don't bring in food or drinks from elsewhere
Don't photograph the chefs or other customers without permission

Most ramen shops have few seats and depend on turnover, so sharing a bowl, lingering or bringing outside food will draw a reminder or a polite refusal from staff; photographing people without asking causes offense.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Ramen Japan: Ramen manners

Cultural sensitivitiesRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Conveyor-belt sushi: take only your own plates and never put one back on the belt

Do

Make your own tea with the powdered tea and hot-water tap at your seat; the water is very hot, so adults should pour for children
Take only what you will eat, and finish what you take
Stack empty plates on your table
Turn the sushi over and dip the topping side lightly in soy sauce
For gunkan-maki, brush on a little soy sauce with a slice of pickled ginger
Many people start with mild white fish and move on to richer flavors (there is no fixed rule)

Don’t

Don't take sushi someone else ordered on the tablet; it is sent to their seat
Don't put a plate you have taken or touched back on the belt, even if untouched
Don't put empty plates back on the belt
Don't dip the rice side in soy sauce; the rice falls apart

Returning plates to the belt is a hygiene problem and staff will step in; taking someone else's order causes trouble for that customer and the shop.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Japan Travel 8888: Conveyor-belt sushi guide

Cultural sensitivitiesRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Never stand chopsticks in rice or pass food chopstick to chopstick

Do

Use serving chopsticks for shared dishes when they are provided
Lift distant dishes toward you by hand
Lay your chopsticks on the rest when done, or on the edge of your plate

Don’t

Do not stand chopsticks upright in rice; it resembles a rice offering for the dead
Do not pass food from your chopsticks to someone else's; it recalls handling remains after cremation
Do not spear food, point at people, or tap bowls with chopsticks
Do not lay chopsticks across your bowl, and do not lick them
Do not hover over dishes undecided or rummage in your soup bowl
Do not drag dishes toward you with chopsticks

These are kirai-bashi (disliked chopstick habits). There is no penalty, but the first two recall funerals and will genuinely upset Japanese diners; the rest look ill-mannered at formal meals.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Japan Know How: Chopstick Rules at a Japanese Table

Local customsRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · France

France: Put bread on the tablecloth and tear it by hand

Do

Wait until everyone is served and the host says Bon appétit
Put your bread straight on the tablecloth beside your plate
Tear off bite-sized pieces by hand
Rest your wrists on the table edge with your hands in view
Make eye contact when toasting and say Santé
Ask for une carafe d'eau for free tap water

Don’t

Don't put bread on your plate or cut it with a knife
Don't bite into a whole piece of bread
Don't plant your elbows on the table during the meal
Don't cut lettuce with a knife; fold it into a small parcel with your fork
Don't switch your fork to your right hand after cutting, American-style

Nothing happens if you slip up, but you will come across as unfamiliar with French table manners. Tap water is free; bottled water is charged.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: La Minute Française: French dining etiquette

Local customsRestaurants & barsCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Izakaya: wait for the toast before drinking, and order at least one dish each

Do

When seated, ask whether there is a time limit (e.g. for all-you-can-drink plans)
Wait until everyone's drinks arrive and someone calls "kanpai" before your first sip
Order according to group size: at least one dish per person
Check the smoking sign at the door: some places have smoking seats, others are fully non-smoking
Confirm how to pay: usually one person settles the whole bill at the end; standing bars often take payment as you order

Don’t

Don't start drinking before the toast
Don't occupy a table for a long time while ordering almost nothing
Don't smoke in non-smoking areas or seats

Drinking before the toast or taking up a table without ordering comes across as not knowing the rules and inconveniences your companions and the shop; smoking in a non-smoking area will be stopped by staff and may lead to complaints or penalties.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: LetsGoJP: Izakaya etiquette