No matter how many tourist snaps you take or museums you explore, you’ll never really understand a place and its people until you drink the way the locals do.From bride kidnapping to a ‘no clinking’ policy, here are some customs to keep in mind when drinking with foreign friends: 

ICELAND There are two holidays dedicated to drinking in Iceland. March 1st is Beer Day and Verslunarmannahelgi (Merchants’ Weekend) in August is a holiday honouring trade and commerce that has become known for its camping, festivals and drinking. 

SPAIN Superstitious drinkers should beware while drinking in Spain. It is believed those who toast with water will be cursed with seven years bad sex. 

CZECH REPUBLIC Even if you’ve just met your Czech drinking mates, you must make eye contact with them when clinking glasses. 

ITALY Soft drink fans be warned. Italians drink only water or wine with their meals. Fizzy drinks and beer are frowned upon.

UKRAINE Unless a Ukrainian bride stays on her feet at her wedding she’s likely to have one of her shoes nicked. Guests will fling the stolen shoe around, strap a glass to it and drink from it for the rest of the night. 

FRANCE The French keep it classy: ladies are served first, glasses are only ever filled halfway and pouring your own drink is frowned upon. France has also embraced a shoe drinking custom. Back in the early 1900s, Prince Henry of Prussia was visiting the highbrow Chicago brothel, Everleigh Club, when a dancer fell out of her slipper and spilled champagne. The prince picked up the shoe, drank from it and a new ritual was born. Over 100 years later, French Champagne house Piper-Heidsieck and shoe designer Christian Louboutin developed a crystal slipper so the tradition could continue in a more hygienic manner. 

CHINA Drinking doesn’t commence until someone does a toast or ganbei. This translates as “dry the cup,” so drinkers are expected to take a decent sip. Juniors must also always hold their glasses lower than their elders or superiors as a sign of respect. 

TURKEY After toasting with raki, Turkey’s national tipple, lightly tap the bottom of your glass on the table in remembrance of someone you wish could be there. 

SWEDEN Warm up your vocal chords before heading to a Swedish shindig. Snapsvisor or drinking songs are sung before, during and after each round of aquavit – a flavoured spirit produced in Scandinavia since the 1400s. 

HOLLAND The Dutch have a centuries old drinking method called kopstootje or “little head butt”. They lean over a little tulip glass filled to the brim with Genever (a Dutch spirit often likened to gin), taking care not to knock the glass with their head, and then chase it with beer. 

GERMANY The night before a German wedding, groomsmen kidnap the bride and take her to a bar. The groom must track them down and shout drinks before he gets his lady back. 

JAPAN Topping up your own drink is a no-no. Keep your neighbour’s glass full and they’ll return the favour. Given it’s impolite to refuse, you can see how this could turn into a long night.

HUNGARY Avoid clinking and drinking. In 1849, Austrian generals are said to have celebrated the executions of 13 Hungarian rebel generals by clinking their glasses.