One of the most popular assertions is that it was used in history to drive off evil spirits, as it was believed that the ringing of bells and clinking of glasses held some sway over the supernatural forces of the world. Sounds a bit silly now, but this was believed for hundreds of years, and many people still assert that this is the origin.
Others claim that slamming oneās drinks together meant that wine and beverages would be sloshed into the other peopleās cups, thereby preventing any attempts at poisoning. Although popularized throughout history as a common, practical way to do away with oneās enemies, most notably in the recent Game of Thrones craze, the logistics behind this explanation donāt hold up. The cups would have to be very full, and this would result in a lot of wasted beverages and a messy floor. Sure, when we think about Vikings slamming pints of mead together, it almost makes sense, but doesnāt explain the tradition at elegant dinner parties, nor the (commonly) spoken word of accompaniment.
That is also connected to the last explanation, that clinking glasses was a symbolic acknowledgement that it was safe to drink together, even without tasting one anotherās wine first. This is still slightly connected to the assassinās theory, and equally untrue, but it is a bit closer to the real explanationā¦
