28 GENERAL INFORMATION
ALCOHOL
Drinking is very popular in Colombia. Colombia is an extremely social country
and drinking is a common method of bonding and is prevalent at almost all
events. The legal drinking age in Colombia is 18 years old. You can find all types
of drinks in Colombia. There are several types of national beer that can be found
and imported beer is available throughout Colombia. Rum is very popular on the
coast and in other areas. A Colombian alcoholic beverage called aguardiente is a
favorite among Colombians. This drink is very powerful and can be dangerous
for foreigners who consume large amounts of it. Many foreigners have lost
many vacation days to this drink, due to tremendous hangovers. Public
drunkenness is frowned upon. Foreigners are encouraged to refrain from alcohol
abuse as it lowers your ability to assess your security situation.
TIPPING
Tipping customs vary in Colombia. Many mid-range and higher-end restaurants
add a 10% tip to the bill's total. Part of the problem is that by law the owner
does not need to give this to the server. It's very polite and kind to leave an extra
tip for your server. Even if it's just a few thousand pesos, the server will be very
grateful. Most servers only make 500,000 pesos a month, and this small amount
from you goes a long way for them. Taxi drivers don't receive tips, but they
appreciate it as they work extremely long hours under difficult conditions. Other
workers who should usually receive tips such as bellmen and the people who
work in other service-related jobs also appreciate a small tip. Tipping in
Colombia is a nice gesture and insures good service. You should remember that
the people serving you make a very small salary and usually work six days a
week.