What custom of the Danes does Hamlet say gives them a poor reputation in other nations?

In
act 1, scene 4,is waiting forwithand Marcellus when they hear trumpets and cannons around
midnight.explains that the Danes have a poor reputation with other countries for drinking too
muchand then causing a scene. In this case, the king is up late drinking and instructs that a
trumpet be sounded each time he finishes another cup.

Hamlet explains to the
men,

This heavy-headed revel east and west
Makes
us traduced and taxed of other nations.
They clepe us drunkards and with swinish
phrase
Soil our addition. (I.iv.19€“22)

Hamlet
isn't a fan of these boisterous traditions and thinks that Denmark would be better served to
show some restraint and preserve its reputation. He explains that drunken antics reduce some of
the other great achievements of Denmark, staining the country's successes. Hamlet realizes, as a
good leader would, that it only takes one blemish of character to ruin a great deal of otherwise
positive qualities:

The dram of evil
Doth all the
noble substance of a doubt
To his own scandal. (I.iv.38€“40)

Although Hamlet is native to Denmark , he doesn't agree with all of
its customs, particularly those which would put his country in a precarious position. Therefore,
he thinks that the traditions of drunken revelry are much "more honored in the breach than
the observance," which speaks not only to his character and passions for ruling Denmark
well, but for the lack of character shown by the current king, Hamlet's
uncle.