A toast is always offered to the Guest of Honour by the host. If it looks like the host will not be offering a toast, it is polite to quietly request the host’s indulgence to do so yourself.
- You should always stand when offering a toast unless it is a small informal group. Standing can help you to get the attention of the group and quiet them down. Don’t signal for quiet by rapping on a glass.
- It’s very bad manners to push someone to make a toast who would otherwise prefer not to. (You may hear a toast that you would just as soon not hear).
- Never refuse to participate in a toast. It is more polite and perfectly acceptable, to participate with a non-alcoholic beverage or even an empty glass than not to participate at all.
If you are the Guest of Honour, or have a toast offered to you, incline your head modestly and remain seated.
Never drink a toast or stand, when it’s being offered to you. However, you should always stand up and respond to the toast, even if this means just thanking the host or the toast maker for the gesture.