What is the etiquette around serving champagne at afternoon tea?

On the afternoon tea frequently asked questions page, someone asked ‘Can you have more champagne if you require at afternoon tea?’ The answer isn’t in black and white, so rather writing ‘it depends’ I have included the scenarios around this below.

Serving champagne at afternoon tea means that it is a Royal Afternoon Tea, or if you are serving cava or prosecco, it is a Sparkling Afternoon Tea. In order for me to answer the question around ‘can you ask for more’ really depends on where the afternoon tea party is being held.

Private homes

If you are attending an afternoon tea at someone's private home, it is advised not to ask for additional champagne unless it is offered to you. Afternoon tea is typically not intended to be a heavily alcoholic occasion, so it is important to gauge the situation and if you see that only one glass of champagne is being served to each guest, kindly refrain from asking for more. The host may have only planned for a single glass per person and might not have additional bottles available. It is essential to respect this, as champagne can be quite expensive. You don't want to put your host in an uncomfortable position by asking for more.

Tea houses or hotels

On the other hand, if you are attending an afternoon tea at a tea house or hotel with friends or family, it is completely acceptable to order more champagne. These establishments are focused on providing good service and making a profit, so they will gladly accommodate your request for additional champagne. However, there are a couple of scenarios where this may differ.

Scenario 1

If you are in a group where not everyone wants champagne and it is only served by the bottle, it wouldn't be fair to split the cost among all individuals. In this case, it would be appropriate to discuss with the other person who wants more champagne and split the expense between yourselves. This applies to situations where you are familiar with each other and comfortable having such a conversation.

Scenario 2

If you are attending an afternoon tea as a guest and are not familiar with the other attendees, such as a baby shower or birthday party, it is advisable not to order more champagne. Even if you are expected to pay for your own tea, it might not be appropriate to put the host or hostess in a position where they have to serve multiple glasses of champagne. To avoid any potential awkwardness, you could discreetly approach the host and offer to buy everyone a glass of champagne as a gesture of appreciation.

In short, if you are enjoying afternoon tea with friends in a hotel setting, feel free to indulge in more champagne. However, in other situations, it is best to appreciate what you have been given and not ask for additional servings. If you are hosting an afternoon tea and would like to learn more about serving alcohol at afternoon tea you can review my earlier advice.