Why do people hit their beer glass on the table after they cheers, before they drink?

This tradition started in Ireland during the potato famine of the mid-1800s, which reduced the island's population by roughly 20 percent. Those lucky enough to toast to their good fortunes with a delicious malty beverage began hitting their glasses on the table afterward as a sign of acknowledgment for the many who were not so fortunate. Think "...and this one's for my homies," but without the wasting of precious booze.

Beer Mug Cheers

Beer is an ancient recipe, it has been around a long time. The Romans had perfected a Stout recipe during the time of the Ceasars... Beer became a drink of royalty. It was considered rude, and even illegal by some Ceasars, if you took a royal drink without "cheering" the ruler himself.

tossing your drink with another drink comes from the midevil times, when kings used to get poison a lot.. as a sign of trust the member of the table will hit their drinks, spilling some of the contents in their cup...signifing that can be trust because there is not poison on the beverage...so it gets pass on around the table ...and everyone will have a little bit of spillage from every cup in the table..

now..slaming the shot glass in the table after doing it is just and ego thing...invented in the twentyth century

just like the handshake derives itself from the offering of the empty sword hand/arm to the other.

the cheers was developed as a way of saluting,but

instead of with your sword. think about it.......

you would extend your beverage and give a yell and even touch drinking vessel,in symbol of two swords coming together,think three musketeers when they extend their swords,in the tavern or king's hall it's not prudent or practical to have everybody swinging their swords up and down.

hence the raise the mock sword[mug of drink]give a cry,return your mock sword to its scabbard ,then drink

THE HITTING OF THE TABLE IS THE RETURNING OF THE SWORD TO THE SCABBARD

I think it's because bars are so loud, and people want to make sure everyone is aware of their group doing a cheers so they don't get left out. This way, they can join in with the cheers if they would like.

Respect to the people around you a sign of anxiousness.

to de activate the foaming