This reading discusses the importance Cognac plays in Hong Kong culture and society. Cognac is an imported french liquor. Cognac is a brandy aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 30 months under tight guidelines and quality control.
Hong Kong is very light consumers of alcohol. In Hong Kong alcohol is viewed as something that is used during special occasions ( weddings). People on Hong Kong don’t drink to get drunk but it is away to be social.
Cognac is viewed to have an "otherness" which makes it harder to get, co Cognac is for the upper class. Cognac is a way to identify where someone stands on the social ladder ( at a dinner party in Hong Kong people with higher status get served better liquor (cognac) and served before those of lower status.
The serving of alcoholic drinks at wedding banquets has a long history in Chinese culture. What kind of Cognac is served at a wedding shows what social class you belong to. It is away to show off your money and wealth.
This is not completely different in Canada’s society there is for sure some name brands of alcohol that are signs of wealth in our culture such as grey goose. The main difference between the Chinese consumption and Canadian consumption is it doesn’t matter the social wealth to determine when a person gets served their drink at a dinner. Chinese and Canadian culture see drinking alcohol as a way to celebrate an occasion.
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