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Many rules of etiquette are no longer in keeping with the world we live in and can often lead to new ways of making blunders. But there are also new rules that most people have not yet heard of. One of them deals with the right way to drink a latte macchiato: never use your spoon to eat the froth.

Another rule says that if your mobile phone rings while you are at the supermarket check-out, don’t answer it and have a long conversation as it is rude to pay and take a call at the same time. Here are a few more etiquette rules to get you safely through the day.

Latte macchiato

“A latte is neither a dessert nor a pudding to be eaten by spoon. It’s a drink,” says etiquette coach Nandine Meyden from Berlin. “Drinks are to be drunk and not eaten.” One old rule that still applies says coffee spoons that have been used to stir the cup should never be licked clean but instead placed immediately on the saucer.

Image consultant Imme Vogelsang of Netzwerk Eitikette Trainer International in Hamburg agrees. “When I visit a cafe, I would never dream of eating milk froth.”

Vogelsang recommends following her example if you want to show you have style. The varied number of coffee drinks available to today’s cafe society provide many ways to follow bad etiquette. For example, it is common to drink espresso with milk in total disregard for the traditional way of enjoying the Italian beverage.

Some types of coffee, such as cappuccino, are not suitable as after-dinner drinks. “After eating a meal of several courses the right beverage to choose is an espresso,” Vogelsang says. “Anyone who chooses a coffee with milk after eating a large meal is showing bad style. It’s a signal to the host that you are still hungry.”

Another reason to avoid milk after eating is because it prevents the beneficial side of drinking coffee. “Milk blocks coffee from stimulating the body’s circulation and digestive systems.”

Wine

Vogelsang says wine is also a source of much ignorance when it comes to the right way to drink it. One rule a well-mannered wine drinker should observe is never hold a wine glass by the bowl. “Drinking wine in style means holding the glass by its stem,” Vogelsang says. Drinking wine in any other manner will leave traces of fat or perspiration on the surface of the glass.

Holding the glass by the bowl will also change the wine’s temperature. “Hopefully the wine is served at the right temperature so that it can develop its most optimum flavour.” Touching the bowl with the palm of the hand will raise the wine’s temperature and change its taste in the process. It also shows you know nothing about proper wine temperature and indicates you don’t trust your host to serve wine.

Mobile phones

One bad habit that in-style people should not engage in is using a mobile phone while shopping.

“If your phone rings while you’re waiting at the check-out, it is very rude to the cashier to treat them as if they are a piece of furniture and to answer your phone,” Meyden says.

The right thing to do in this situation is to briefly take the call and explain the awkward situation you are in. “A long call means you are delaying other customers and you cannot pack your shopping quickly,” adds Susanne Helbach-Grosser, who has spent many years teaching etiquette. The right solution is to make the return call a few minutes later.

Cinema

The etiquette expert also says it is wrong to turn your face to the screen and away from people sitting in a cinema as you pass them to find your seat.

“It shows disregard to other people by not facing them,” Meyden explains. “It also prevents you from seeing if you will accidentally step on their toes.”

Invitations

When a host issues an invitation that explicitly requests guests not to bring a present, many people feel uncomfortable arriving with empty hands.

“As a guest you must respect the host’s wishes,” Meyden says.

That rule applies equally to dress code, time of arrival and presents. “Disregarding the host’s wish can embarrass the host and other guests as well.”

It is much better to ask if you can do the host a favor such as contributing something to the buffet. 

DPA