Formalities of entertaining:

You will often be pressured to drink alcohol at official dinners and at casual meetings. You can say that you are ill and cannot drink. The drinking culture for men and women is very ingrained and often difficult to deal with, but if you persist with your refusal you are under no obligation to drink, or share a smoke, which is also commonplace.

When someone visits you at home it is customary to ask if they have eaten, and to offer food. When you visit people's homes you will be asked if you have eaten and be offered food and drink, perhaps several times, even if you refuse, as this is polite. Entertaining otherwise is informal. It is customary to take off your shoes at the door. You will be given slippers to use. It is very polite to give a small gift, perhaps some fruit, to your host.

Tweet