Peruvians are a very welcoming bunch of people, and Peru is certainly not short on opportunities for backpackers who like to have an occasional beer. While more formal drinking and dining events are fairly standard and recognizable procedures, informal group drinking often comes with its own particular idiosyncrasies. These are most notable when drinking with working-class Peruvians.
While this style of drinking may be familiar for some people traveling in Peru, others may well wonder how exactly to fit in with the traditional Peru beer drinking process. The cerveza circle (for want of a better term) is common in other South American countries, but some nations have slight variations on the theme. The following information is focused specifically on Peruvian beer drinking culture.
The Peruvian Beer Drinking Process – What Goes Around Comes Around
Whether sat around a table in a bar, huddled in a group near a disco dance floor or partaking in an impromptu drinking session on a street corner, the Peru beer drinking process follows a distinct pattern. The most notable aspect is the use of one glass and one bottle of beer amongst the gathered group.
To explain the process, let’s assume the bottle buyer drinks first:
- The bottle buyer fills his glass, passing the bottle to the next person who then waits with bottle in hand.
- The bottle buyer quickly drains his glass before flicking the froth from the glass onto the ground (this is standard procedure).
- The bottle buyer then passes the glass to the bottle holder.
- The bottle holder now refills the glass before passing the bottle onto the next person. Having finished the glass, he passes it on to the new bottle holder.
- This continues until the bottle is finished.
Women don’t often fill their own glasses; a man will often fill a woman’s glass before passing the bottle on to the next person.
Peru Culture – The Beer Buyer
So, who buys the next bottle? Unofficially, the person who finishes the bottle should buy the next one. This can occasionally lead to some beer bluffing and short measures from people trying to avoid finishing a bottle. Habitual beer bluffers, those that always pass the dregs around to avoid finishing the bottle, will get a reputation in the long term.
If the tourist/backpacker has been knocking back a few glasses it’s always a nice touch if he or she buys a bottle or two (beer is cheap in Peru, so the budget won’t take too great a hit). When buying, be sure to get the same brand as before; Peruvians are loyal beer drinkers and will often stick religiously to Pilsen Callao, Cusqueña or Cristal (just hope that it’s Pilsen Callao).
Beer Drinking in Peru – Cultural Flair or Frustration?
It may not be a complicated process, but for travelers accustomed to having their own beer (and normally their own glass!) it can be a fairly odd way of drinking. It’s a very sociable, sharing and fun way to drink, but it can be a little frustrating at times.
Firstly, it is almost impossible to keep track of how much has actually been drunk; trying to stay respectably inebriated rather than stumblingly smashed can be tricky. It is also difficult to drink at one’s own pace as the glass is always in circulation. Finally, for those preoccupied with hygiene, the process is... unhygienic.
Peruvian Beer Drinking Culture
Despite all that, it’s still part of the rich Peruvian cultural experience. And, for those who like a beer now and again, drinking with Peruvians is always good fun. For backpackers who don’t speak Spanish, a few bottles of Pilsen can also make language barriers seem just that little bit smaller....
Related Articles:
- Travel Peru – Culture & Customs for Backpackers – some more cultural differences and Peruvian customs for backpackers to look out for.
- Tipping – Peru Backpacking Travel Tips – knowing when to tip in Peru (and how much) helps to save money and avoid social slip-ups.
- Popular Spanish Peruvian Slang Words – learn the unconventional Peruvian lingo.
- Peru Travel Article List – a list of all the author's Peru travel articles.
Tony Dunnell - Tony Dunnell is a freelance writer and a specialist in South American travel. He has two Peru blogs, howtoperu.com and tarapotolife.com
