Even though cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms are a great way to start a trip, knowing the local drinking etiquette when overseas makes sense if you do not want to unintentionally offend the locals.
The following is drinking advice from the lonely planet for people traveling abroad:
In Japan do not fill your own glass. Instead fill the glass of the person next to you and wait for that person to reciprocate. Filling your own glass in Japan suggests that you are an alcoholic.
In Armenia the person who receives the last drops in a bottle is expected to purchase the next bottle. It is viewed as considerate when one pours the last couple of drops into his own glass.
In Australia, shouting is a revered custom in pubs where patrons rotate paying for a round of drinks. Make certain you do not leave before it is your turn to buy.
In Russia vodka is not casually sipped. Instead it is used for toasting. Men are expected to down shots in a single gulp, which is usually not true for women. Vodka should never be mixed or diluted. An empty bottle of vodka should always be placed on the floor not on a table.
In Sweden it is viewed as vulgar to clink your glasses unless your table is engaging in a formal skals (cheers). www.cheapfares.com