EATING, DRINKING & SMOKING Return to American page Return
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DRINKING WATER
Although a significant percentage of Americans drink bottled
water, public tap water in virtually the entire country is safe to drink
without prior boiling or other treatments.
Federal, state and local regulations regarding water quality are
strictly enforced.
If you get a meal at a fast food restaurant such as McDonalds or KFC, they frequently list "specials" in the windows. The menus are normally above the servers.
Once you tell the person your order, it is helpful to immediately say whether you want your food to consume at the restaurant ("we will eat here") or to take to another location ("take out"). The term "take away" is seldom used to refer to meals that will be carried elsewhere.
If you eat "in" the restaurant, it is the custom to discard the trash and the tray yourself and leave your table uncluttered.
Tipping is not done at fast food restaurants.
ALCOHOL
Alcoholic beverages are normally not consumed at business luncheons. Even if the server asks if you want a cocktail, it is usually best to request water or a non-alcoholic beverage. At dinners, it is best to follow the example of he host regarding alcoholic beverages.
At receptions, moderation is suggested regarding the consumption of alcohol beverages.
TOBACCO
At virtually every public place in the U.S., including places of employment, it is not permissible to smoke indoors. A large percentage of Americans who do not use tobacco find smoking in their presence to be offensive. Many of these people think lowly of smokers. So it is best to keep tobacco out of business situations.