Full of spirit and happy to share in drinking rituals

"Beer" is often the first word many foreigners learn how to say in a foreign language. However, different cultures have their own unique, and often dangerous concoctions, which make beer seem like a rather anodyne, anemic, little brother.

These concoctions can also serve as introductions into some of your new culture's more elaborate and interesting cultural rituals. For instance, in South Korea, one of the national drinks is soju, which is a strong form of distilled gin. There are any number of social rules which Koreans observe while drinking soju: For instance, when you pour for someone who is senior to you, or older than you, you should place your other hand lightly under your pouring hand or under your opposite elbow. This may prove difficult to remember after your third glass of soju, but, hopefully, everyone else will be too inebriated to notice, or care. They'll simply be impressed at your ability to handle the stuff, and happy that you seem to enjoy it.

In China, the equivalent of soju is baijiu, another white, distilled alcoholic beverage, which fascinates newcomers and makes old hands shudder in both terror and painful memory.