Tapani Beverage Customs
This one’s harder to figure out.
At a business meeting, you’re a respected ally if you’re served simple energy and very mild stimulant drinks: caf, tea, lemonade, that sort of thing. You’re considered a problem to be persuaded or solved if you’re served alcohol.
However, true socializing is accompanied by alcohol. Or tea. Sometimes both.
Being served an alcoholic drink from your host’s own hands (possibly in private?) is apparently considered a test of trust. This one may be observed more in the discussion than the actual application — one person asks another, if Lord Whosis offered you a glass of wine right now, poured and presented with his own hands, would you drink it? The implication is: “do you really trust that Lord Whosis isn’t trying to kill you/ruin your reputation?”
Otherwise, Galaxy-wide standards apply the same in Tapani as they do in the Core. Cheap booze is an insult implying very low social caste. Requesting the locally-made product earns a visitor brownie points. Among a gathering of just locals, providing out-of-town liquor is a luxury, and therefore either a gesture of affection (proportional to the expense and distance from origin), or a subtle “better’n youse” type of snub, depending on context. Fancy, multiple-ingredient concoctions are a sign of having no troubles anywhere in one’s life.
General rule: during investigations that lead into local bars, order the house brew on tap, and one for the bartender. Gesture with it a lot. Avoid drinking much more than half. Melted ice works wonders.
During investigations that lead into a noble’s parlor, check background on whether said noble is proud of her lands or wishes she lived elsewhere. If former, you’ll need to know what the local commoners brew so you can admit having been impressed by it on your one previous encounter with said drink. If latter, request Menkooro whiskey (which is supposed to be served in relatively small quantities and usually consumed slowly) or Corellian Reserve brandy (which is stupid expensive), always with an air of assumption that of COURSE they have that in stock and it’s no big deal.
Productivity Day, 12722
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