In a renewed push for austerity, Chinese civil servants are now facing restrictions on dining out in groups of more than three, following several high-profile deaths linked to excessive alcohol consumption at official banquets.
The stricter rules are part of a broader anti-corruption and discipline campaign under President Xi Jinping. Updated regulations released in May target public sector extravagance, banning lavish banquets, unnecessary infrastructure projects, luxury vehicle fittings, and even decorative plants at official gatherings.
These efforts gained urgency after three officials died in alcohol-related incidents since April, prompting disciplinary action against dozens of others who allegedly tried to conceal the events or settle matters privately. The deaths occurred in Hunan, Anhui, and Henan provinces.
Commenting on the situation, Alfred Wu, associate professor at the National University of Singapore, noted that while Beijing aims to promote domestic spending, maintaining a clean and disciplined government remains Xi’s top priority. The drinking culture, he said, remains deeply entrenched, and the government has resorted to sweeping restrictions as a remedy.
Some local administrations have gone further, discouraging civil servants from treating subordinates or superiors to meals, urging caution around social dining, and warning against forming “small cliques.” A Communist Party body in Anhui province issued a post outlining these rules, prompting a wave of criticism on social media.
Civil servants from across the country shared examples of what they see as overreach: breathalyser tests, bans on lunch with coworkers, restrictions on socializing, removal of office plants, and surprise inspections by disciplinary authorities.
Despite the criticism, some officials support the regulations, citing relief from peer pressure to drink or socialize with higher-ups.
These new measures reinforce the long-standing “eight-point regulations” Xi introduced in 2012 to combat corruption. Recent data shows a sharp rise in disciplinary actions, with over 16,500 officials penalized in April alone — up from 9,292 in February.
