Drinking Etiquette at the Tab

How to Avoid Lipstick Marks on a Wine Glass

By Tami Lancut Leibovitz | Master of Manners

Sometimes the smallest details reveal the most about etiquette, awareness, and personal elegance. One such moment occurs when we take a sip from a glass.

It is a simple, everyday gesture, yet it can easily become an unintended focal point if a lipstick ring or greasy mark remains on the rim.

At first glance this may seem trivial. However, according to international etiquette standards, it is precisely these small details that distinguish an elegant diner from someone who is simply drinking.

Early etiquette guides, including those by Emily Post, emphasized a fundamental rule of civilized behavior: never do anything unpleasant to others. American etiquette expert Letitia Baldrige later noted that the small details at the table reflect the broader culture of refinement.

The same principle applies to drinking etiquette. Whether at a formal dinner, a business lunch, or a casual gathering, a lipstick or grease mark on the rim of a glass can appear careless and may draw unwanted attention.

Fortunately, the solution is simple.

First, gently blot your lips with a napkin before taking a sip. This removes excess lipstick, balm, or oils that could transfer to the glass.

Second, always drink from the same spot on the rim of the glass rather than moving around it. Finishing schools in Switzerland and England have long taught this practice because it maintains a clean and orderly appearance.

Finally, when placing the glass back on the table, position it so that any mark faces toward you rather than toward the table.

Importantly, this etiquette rule is not only about lipstick and not only about women. Men can also leave traces of oil or lip balm. Modern etiquette is not about gender but about awareness and consideration for others.

In the end, elegance is rarely about grand gestures. It is about attention to the smallest details.

As I often say in my lectures:

"True etiquette begins in the moments no one notices—yet everyone feels".

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