Refusing Wine or Food
This is part of a series I've been wanting to do for a long time so I am
excited I am able to have Eugene do this for my blog. It is about
etiquette as was appropriate in the Victorian Era (1837–1901). During
that time, culturally there was a transition away from the rationalism
of the Georgian period and toward romanticism and mysticism with regard to religion, social values, and the arts. The era is popularly associated with the values of social restraint. What? Social restraint? What's that?!? So we move on....thank you for reading.
Love, George
Refusing Wine or Food
If you don't wish to have wine it is best to allow a little to be poured into your glass. Unless your host happens to be looking at your glass when the wine is poured, he will not know later on that your almost empty glass was never filled. On the other hand, if he did happen to notice, he could not feel that much wine was wasted. In any case, to turn your wineglass upside down is a needlessly rude way to say, "No."
Love, George
Refusing Wine or Food
If you don't wish to have wine it is best to allow a little to be poured into your glass. Unless your host happens to be looking at your glass when the wine is poured, he will not know later on that your almost empty glass was never filled. On the other hand, if he did happen to notice, he could not feel that much wine was wasted. In any case, to turn your wineglass upside down is a needlessly rude way to say, "No."
As to this general subject of saying "No" when we want to, many people feel embarrassed when refusing cocktails but have no hesitation in refusing foods - particularly those to which they are allergic! The reason is most likely because of the censorious attitude of those who disapprove of alcohol, no matter how temperate its use, has brought about a connotation of disapproval in its refusal. One may refuse to eat bread, or fish, or strawberries, and this may cause regret on the part of the hostess who knows that her biscuits are superlatively good, or the fish caught but a few hours before the meal, or the strawberries picked at just the right time, but no disapproval can possibly be implied on the part of the guest who says, "No, thank you."
Today, the increasing use of the word "allergic" has been more helpful to the acceptance of the phrase "No, thank you" than anything that ever happened. It is considered discourteous to refuse whatever one's host or hostess proffered. A well-behaved guest should take a little bit of everything that is proffered and eat and drink that little.
Posted by Eugene Vodovoz at 16 October 2011, 10:21 AM 
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: wine food cocktails refusal
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: wine food cocktails refusal
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