Rank burps according to one’s gut instincts

Defining and then acting upon perceived cultural slurs is bound to cause hiccups. The recent case of the Vienna bartender winning his appeal against being fined £55 for emitting a loud post-kebab burp next to a police officer demonstrates this hazard most eloquently. The belcher was obviously acquainted with places where such eructations are not merely accepted but even appreciated as an expression of gastronomic gratification. But the policeman who got wind of this belch from an impressive distance decided that the act was a violation of public decency, booked him and even got a conviction before it was overturned on appeal. That the bartender’s supporters mobilised a flash mob for a mass burping protest — tanked up on cola and kebabs — further highlights the deep divisions on what should be an internal matter.

There is merit in the argument of the bartender’s lawyer that the offensive potential of burps should always be gauged in context. The impact would be different when heard at a classic music recital or on a busy public thoroughfare. Significantly, at Indian or Chinese feasts, non-burpers could even be accused of gross rudeness. The positive aspect of the incident, of course, is that a place where a belch can get such importance must have a low incidence of more serious crimes that require official attention.