Toasting - How to toast at a business meal

From the perspective of operational procedures, there are four aspects to pay attention to when toasting:

1. How to pour wine

You need to pour wine before toasting. According to regulations, except for the host and service staff, other guests are generally not allowed to pour wine for others by themselves. If the host pours the wine himself, he should use the best wine at the banquet. The guests should pick up the wine glasses to express their thanks and stand up when necessary.

If it is a large-scale business meal, the service staff should serve the wine. When pouring wine, one should generally start with the person in the highest position and then proceed clockwise. If you don't need the wine, you can put your hand on the glass and say "No, thank you". At this time, there is no need for the sommelier to ask for refills again and again.

At Chinese food, when others are pouring wine, you can also "knock your fingers" in return. Especially when your status is higher than that of your master. That is, pinch the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of the right hand together, with the fingertips pointing downward, and tap the table several times to express gratitude for the pourer.

What is the appropriate amount of wine to pour? Liquor and beer can be filled to the top, but other foreign wines do not need to be filled.

2. When to toast?

Toasting should be carried out at a specific time, and the primary consideration should be not to affect the guests' dining.

Toasts are divided into formal toasts and ordinary toasts. Formal toasts can usually be made after the guests and hosts are seated and before the meal. The host usually does the toasts, and at the same time, standard wine words must be said. Ordinary toasting can start as long as it is after the formal toasting. But be careful to do it when it is convenient for the other party. For example, he is not toasting with other people and is not chewing in his mouth, thinking that the other party may be willing to accept your toast. Moreover, if you are toasting to the same person, you should wait until someone with a higher status than yourself has done so before doing so.

3. The order of toasting

What is the order of toasting? Under normal circumstances, the order should be based on age, position, and identity of guest and host. Before toasting, you must fully consider the order of toasts and distinguish priorities to avoid embarrassing situations. Even if you can't tell the difference or your position or status is unclear, you should toast in a unified order, such as starting from your side and toasting clockwise, or toasting from left to right, right to left, etc.

4. Toast behavior requirements

Toasts are divided into formal toasts and ordinary toasts. A formal toast means that at the beginning of the banquet, the host first toasts to everyone collectively and says a standard toast at the same time. The content of this kind of toast can be a little longer, but it can be finished within five minutes.

Whether it is the host or the guest, if you are toasting to the group at your seat, you are required to stand up first, smile, hold the wine glass in your hand, and face everyone.

When the host proposes a toast to the group, everyone should stop eating or drinking. When the host proposes a toast, everyone should stand up and clink their glasses with each other. According to international practice, toasting does not necessarily require drinking it dry. But even those who don’t usually drink alcohol should pick up the wine glass and take a sip to show respect for the host.

In addition to the host toasting to the group, guests can also toast to the group. The guest's toast can be shorter, even one or two sentences. For example: "Everyone, let's toast to our happy cooperation in the future!"

Usually, ordinary toasts are more involved in etiquette standards. Ordinary toasting means that after the host makes a formal toast, each guest and the host or between the guests can toast each other and say one or two simple toasts or words of advice.

When someone toasts to you, you should raise the glass to eye level, and drink after the other person says a toast or "cheers". After drinking, you have to hold the wine glass and look at each other before the process is over.

For our country, special attention should be paid when toasting. When making a toast, both the one making the toast and the one receiving the toast should pay attention to adapting to local conditions and doing as the local customs do. In most of our regions, especially in northern regions such as Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, people often pay attention to "drying as soon as you pick up the toast" when toasting. In their view, this is the only way to express sincerity and respect. Therefore, you should pay attention to the specific response. You should sincerely explain in advance that you are not a good drinker. Do not toast the other person with a glass of wine seemingly boldly. If the other person drinks it in one gulp, you are just "meaning", which will often arouse the other person. unhappy. In addition, for those who are toasting, if the other party is really not drunk enough, there is no need to force it. The highest state of drinking should be "drinking well" rather than "drinking down".

In Chinese food, there is another thing to pay attention to. That is, after the host toasts you personally, you should return the toast and drink another drink with him. When reciprocating, you should hold the cup in your right hand, hold the bottom with your left hand, and drink at the same time as the other person. When toasting, you can touch the wine glass with the other person symbolically. Don't use too much force or you will hear the sound. Out of respect, you can make your own wine glass lower than the other person's wine glass. If you are far away from the other party, you can touch the bottom of the wine glass to the table to indicate clinking glasses.

Different from Chinese food, the wine used for toasting and toasting in Western food is generally champagne. Moreover, it is just a toast but not a drink. It is a toast without actually clinking glasses. It is also not allowed to toast to those who are far away from you, especially cross toasts.