Would appreciate `Sensible Advice`here
Cheers Joanne
Hi there. My Husband is Swiss but has lived in Australia for a long time, I am not sure if the social customs are the same as they are at home.SO I need to Know if you go to a Swiss persons house for Dinner, do you bring wine, beer spirits, if that's what you drink?. And in reverse do Swiss guests bring Drinks when they are invited to your House? We just don't want to offend any one, or go thirsty!!!
We usually take a bottle of wine and some flowers with us. And when friends come to ours, it's the same. Sometimes, its a more personal gift, depending on how close those friends are.
Try some dated threads which might help:
Swiss etiquette when invited to the neighbours...
http://www.nzclub.ch/html/settling_in.html
On this side of Switzerland, no, BYO ("Bring Your Own", I assume) would not be considered normal unless the invitation explicitly says so. A small gift such as a bottle of wine is normal, but don't expect it to be opened during the occasion as the host would have their own wine ready.
Showing up with spirits or bringing what you want to drink is just not done. As was said, bring a bottle of wine (which may or may not be drunk that night) and flowers or chocolates. You will then drink what is offered to you. Of course you can get more personal once you know the people well. And you can ask if they need you to bring anything.
The essential thing, as discussed on other threads, is that a dinner to which guests are invited is something that is composed according to certain requirements and rules, for instance what wine suits what dish and many other aspects.
So, never expect a Swiss host to open the bottle you brought. Bringing it is fine, it will be appreciated, but it will be put aside for another occasion, maybe even one if you -- if you left an good impression, that is....
Or maybe they will forget who brought it and give it back to the person when they go to visit :P
Nobody in my circle bring alcohol although we all drink it! The problem is that you may need 5 or 6 bottles of wine for a large dinner party. Hosts have their favourites which they trust and love, and your maybe unknown bottle will be treated suspiciously and put in the cellar and forgotten.
However if the host is known to be a whiskey / cognac connosieur then an unusual bottle of whiskey or cognac would be OK.
Fresh flowers are always appreciated, and some interesting chocolates or biscuits from a specialist Conditorei shop are most welcome. For a house warming party maybe a large plant in a nice pot. If they have children you should also bring them a small present.
Another possibility is to phone a week ahead and ask the hostess if you can bring a starter or a sweet course. If she says no thanks then don't push the idea, but often the idea is welcomed and you can introduce a speciality from your home country. But avoid shell fish!
Never arrive early to a private function, they might still be cleaning up and that would cause an embarassment. 5 minutes late is ideal.
The only place that I've ever seen BYO in Switzerland is when we occasionally visit an Aussie friend of ours, and even then the host always provides plenty of booze to go around. Otherwise, I haven't come across BYO since my student days.
Even at the most casual BBQ, the host will have laid on plenty of beer and wine to keep you happy, and if you entertain, you'll be expected to do the same.
I always found the Aussie custom of BYO to be very strange, especially after reaching adulthood where everyone could afford to lay on some beer when they issued an invitation.