Etiquette for Cheers-ing

[erikm]

Hi,

I was having a conversation a while back with a friend about the etiquette of cheers-ing, ...she mentioned that you should not hit the glasses together, but rather just raise them up. I've personally always "clinked" them together, is this rude/wrong?

E

 

[Sazerac]

Customs regarding toasting -- that's what it's called, btw, not cheersing, or whatever -- vary widely. There's no right or wrong way of doing it. That said, I always try to clink the glasses together. It's a sound that, to me, means civilization and bonhomie, like the sound of a kiss means affection or romance.

But if you're too far away from the other party to touch glasses, or there's no room for your glass in the pile up, then don't worry about it. Just a nominal raising of the glass, though, when you could otherwise actually touch glasses seems sort of inauthentic.

Again, that's just my preference. Maybe in some countries there are hard and fast rules about this sort of thing, but there aren't any such rules in America.

 

[Harold falcon]

Syndi seems to suggest clinking the glasses is not necessary.

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For myself, it depends on the size of the group. The larger the group, and the more spread out everyone is, the less likely to "clink". If everyone is seated at the same table within easy arms reach then I think a "clink" is entirely appropriate.

 

[Sazerac]

Syndi reminds me a robot on thorzine.

That said, I did learn you're not supposed to clink your fork on the glass to get the room's attention. Had no idea.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

lol cheers-ing.

 

[Biscotti]

Raise up the glass, eye contact, clink, drink.

 

[Master-Classter]

basically, clinking the glasses together is pretty crude IMO and misses the grace usually associated with raising a toast. and before you think i'm stuffy old man, I mean this even just when doing a 'welcome to our home' casual dinner type of cheers-ing. I try to avoid it but some people seem to feel I'm being rude if I don't smack my glass against theirs.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

Originally Posted by Biscotti

Raise up the glass, eye contact, clink, drink.

+1

Everything you want to know about cheers-ing can be found in this video.

 

[changy]

I don't clink with wine glasses (unless the other person does it)
Clink with beer mugs

 

[erikm]

Thanks for the replies.

Her reasoning was that if the hosts have nice wine glasses, then they wouldn't want you to hit them against each other.

 

[Kyoung05]

 

[Douglas]

i always ***** glasses before taking a nip.

 

[Joffrey]

I rarely clink glasses. I'm always worried I'd break them plus the sound is annoying.

 

[ktrp]

You're supposed to slosh your drinks together, thereby showing you haven't poisoned each other.

My small children say grace with us at dinner, then immediately shout cheers right after 'amen, as though its one phrase 'Amen- Cheers!'

We try to explain to guests that its because we're Anglican.

 

[emmanuel]

i hate "cheersing". Just let me drink already!