Germans are great hand-shakers, and they like to do so both when arriving and when departing. It is common for a person who is joining a group to shake hands with every single individual.
Beer and wine are part of a normal dinner and alcoholic drinks are usually offered to guests. Not drinking, however, is completely accepted. A German who rejects a drink is not just being shy or polite but does not want to drink. For some cultures it is uncommon to see teenagers order a beer at restaurants and pubs. Remember that the legal drinking age in Germany is 16 for beer and wine and 18 for spirits. Be five to 10 minutes early for important appointments and be sure to call the people you are meeting if you really cannot make it in time.
In private, the older person suggests using the informal "du" to the younger person. In the business world, the higher ranking person—regardless of age and sex—would always be the one to suggest switching to "du. If the flowers are wrapped in paper, remember to take off the wrapping just before you enter the home. Germans are extremely environmentally conscious and separate their garbage to facilitate recycling.
If your neighbors spot you throwing recyclable glass or paper into the regular garbage, your relationship could be strained for good.
When close friends greet each other, it is common to kiss both the left and right cheeks. However, this is considered inappropriate in a business setting. Crossing the knife and fork on your plate is an indication that you are not yet finished with your meal. Placing knife and fork on the right side of the plate in parallel is a signal to the waiter that you have finished and that the plate can be cleared away. It is polite to address everyone by their family name and "Sie.
