As a Chinese, it’s kind of funny to see questions like “Why don’t Chinese drink alcohol?” from Google. Perhaps people who are asking this type of question have never worked, or lived, with true Chinese.
so do Chinese drink alcohol?
I can’t say it’s 100 percent, but I’m definitely sure Chinese people do drink alcohol in various situations, such as business occasions, celebration parties, union parties, friends gatherings, etc. So drinking, in my opinion, is a big deal in China. Even the top two most-sold beers in the world are Chinese brands – Snow and Tsingtao.
In most circumstances, the Chinese don’t drink alcohol for tasting, but for talking. After drinking a couple of glasses of wine, everybody will start feeling winged and excited, and then they’re going to have a lot of talking with each other about their life stuff, business stuff, emotional stuff, etc. The overall situation is quite harmonious and fun.
Understanding the drinking culture in China
What you have to understand first is that drinking in China is a pervasive social ritual, mostly associated with social occasions or business dinners. Even though the drinking culture and lifestyle in the West have gradually been brought to China, the Chinese are now still considering drinking one of the best and most relaxing ways to have talks with people.
On the other hand, as we all know that the Chinese eat very well, and some extremely high-quality Chinese cuisine represents their obsession with food. But when it comes to drinking, they are some of the greatest in the world as well. if there is no alcohol, there is no way to call a great Chinese dinner complete. Therefore, alcohol is also a crucial part of the traditional Chinese dinner table.
In Chinese drinking culture, becoming drunk and embarrassing yourself is highly frowned upon. It is considered manly and praiseworthy to be able to drink heavily. But also, many people are suffering various health problems because of drinking too much, which everyone should avoid.
But why people think Chinese don’t drink alcohol?
Alcohol flush syndrome – Asian Flush probably might be the main reason that people think Chinese don’t drink alcohol.
People may see, or heard, that East Asians will easily get red faces when drinking alcohol, which is caused by the inherited deficiency in one of the enzymes involved in the breakdown of alcohol. The syndrome has been associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer in those who drink. Approximately 36% of East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans) show characteristic physiological responses to drinking alcohol that includes facial flushing, nausea, headaches, and a fast heart rate.
Admittedly, this syndrome is somewhat common among Chinese people, but, at least, it’s not enough to hurt the popularity of alcohol in China. Some Chinese will continue to enjoy drinking even though it may cause bad results. Of course, I don’t think those people are doing right, but I just want to let you know how important and significant alcohol is in Chinese daily life.
Tips for drinking with Chinese people
Perhaps you’re living in China now and already have made friends with various Chinese. Well, I’m sure that some of your friends love drinking and it’s inevitable for you to deal with lots of social events involved in lots of drinking. Well preparing for those events not only can help you survive but also can really mingle with your Chinese friends’ zone. Here are some helpful tips for drinking with Chinese people.
1. To know what you will be drinking
I’m sure you must have heard about Baijiu, which is a kind of Chinese white wine. Baijiu is the drink of choice for business dinners in China, tasted somewhat like tequila. Baijiu is very strong, which can be as strong as 60% alcohol by volume.
In a friends-gathering event, beer should be the most common alcohol. You need to learn those popular drinking games before you join the event since the Chinese love to drink beer by playing some fun games.
If you want to avoid getting drunk, you should be aware of what kinds of alcohol are served at what kinds of social events.
2. Prepare toasts and cheers
Yes, the Chinese love to have a toast during drinking, especially Chinese from north-eastern. Having a toast before having the first round of drink is a kind of manner. The toast doesn’t need to be complicated or make people cry, it just needs to be able to show your gratitude and blessing.
Normally the person who is a bit special is asked to have a toast which is why I remind you to notice this part when you’re having a drink with your Chinese friends because you, with a western face, usually will be considered the special one.
3. Don’t directly reject drinking
Chinese are very enthusiastic about foreigners and drinking is one the most common ways to show their friends. However, you might have heard about Chinese that they normally won’t talk in a very straightforward way, which is true. So when a Chinese offers you a glass of alcohol during the event, please don’t directly say “no” but kindly accept once and then express your difficulty.
Of course, it would be much better if you state that you’re not fond of drinking to your Chinese friends and colleagues. They will totally understand and won’t bother you to drink.
4. Clink in a right way
In general, clinking glasses equates to “Gan Bei” where you have to bottoms up. Of course, if there is no clinking, you can drink however much you want. Some people will recommend some trick to avoid drinking after clinking with people, but I absolutely disagree with this behavior since it’s kind of disrespectful to people. Once you’ve clinked with others, just finish your drink and let them know if you can’t get another one.
Things get trickier if your boss or superior approaches you to have a drink. In a time like this, remember to clink the rim of your glass lower than theirs, showing your respect and humble to them.
5. Dry your cup if you need to leave for reason
Here is one excellent idea for you when you’re dying to escape a crazy Chinese drinking occasion: bringing your cup to tell them your leaving reason and then dry your cup. This is a so effective way based on my own experience and my understand of Chinese people.
Chinese love seeing people being sincere and respectful and will treat well to those kinds of people. Drying your cup is not only a way to have a toast, but also a way to show your respect, getting closer with your friends, so drinking up your cup when you decide to leave can help you create a positive impression in front of your Chinese friends.
The hottest Chinese alcohol brands
What are the hottest Chinese alcohol brands? People might first pop up the brand names like “Wu Liang Ye”, “Mao Tai”, “Tsingtao”, etc. But today, I would like to refresh your impression by presenting several new and young alcohol brands. Nowadays, the following Chinese alcohol brands are the hottest ones.
(If you’re specifically interested in Chinese beer, I suggest you can go check this list of best Chinese beer brands, which probably can help you find the best beer in China.)
Yolo (江小白)
Feel free to check URL: http://www.ijovo.com/
This is one of the hottest alcohol brands in China nowadays! It’s a Chinese white wine (Baijiu) brand. It’s very young, only being founded a couple of years ago in Chongqing city. Currently,
Yolo has been being sensational among the Chinese young generation, not because of its quality but because of its marketing. In the past few years, Yolo has been greatly investing their marketing budget in Hip-Hop related activities, such as TV shows, rap star performances, advertisements, etc., building up their brand as a young, energetic, and cool brand image.
You’re probably told that Chinese white wine (Baijiu) usually is served in some formal business occasions, but Yolo have changed it. Now you can see Yolo baijiu in various occasions among young Chinese drinking tables. What’s a bit surprise me is that even Chinese girls are drinking Yolo, not because they like baijiu, but because they think drinking Yolo is a cool thing.
SuperX (雪花SuperX)
Feel free to check URL: http://www.snowbeer.com.cn/index.php?r=pro/product/list&id=23
It’s a sup-brand of Chinese famous beer brand, WhiteSnow. Applying similar marketing strategy as Yolo, SuperX is also a young Chinese alcohol brand that’s mainly targeting Chinese younger consumers, but it’s selling beer.
In 2019, SuperX sponsors a sensational online reality show called Street Dance of China and it’s being explored, making almost every young Chinese know this new beer brand “SuperX”. Actually, its quality is not bad. The taste is pretty light, which is suitable for both boys and girls, and the bottle design is modern, gripping comfortable.
Lao Cunzhang (老村长)
Feel free to check URL: http://www.lczjt.cn/
A cheap but popular Chinese white wine brand from northern Chinese. Although it’s cheap, its quality is not bad, tasting soft and not very strong with a bit sweet.
In fact, Lao Cunzhang is an old and niche Chinese alcohol brand, being very famous in northern China but kind strange in South. Currently, because the Baijiu popularity brought by Yolo, Lao Cunzhang Baijiu start getting noticed by Chinese consumers and being spread countrywide.
Red Star Er Guo Tou (红星二锅头)
Feel free to check URL: http://www.redstarwine.com/
One of the Baijiu brand name that absolutely can’t be missed when we’re talking about Chinese Baijiu brands, Red Star Er Guo Tou is one of the oldest and most representative Chinese alcohol brands.
Red Star enterprise was founded in 1949, which is one of the designated projects as a gift of new China. In order to enable the Chinese people, whose living standards were generally low in the early days of the people’s Republic of China, to drink the pure Baijiu, the price of Red Star Erguotou Wine is not being set too high. Therefore, since red star came out more than 50 years ago, more than ten kinds of products are low-cost wine.
Because Red Star Er Guo Tou is sweet, mellow and cheap, it has always been favored by consumers, even in today, becoming a synonym for “popular good wine” in China. Over the past 50 years, various low-priced products under the Red Star brand have maintained a high sale-volume, and have been the first in the low-end liquor market in Beijing.
Taiwan Sorghum liquor (台湾高粱酒)
Feel free to check URL: https://www.jd.com/phb/12259981db2fc903ff13b.html
Taiwan’s sorghum liquor is known as the best wine in Taiwan. Its annual consumption in Taiwan is more than NT $15 billion. Together with Alishan and Riyuetan, it is also the most competitive and characteristic wine in Taiwan. Taiwan Sorghum liquor inherits the traditional brewing technology of the ancient method, combining experience and modern equipment to brew sorghum wine.
After more than five years of long-term storage in the cellar, the inborn natural cold air in the cellar makes the ingredients in the wine naturally mellow after long-term mixing and absorption, and after careful blending and blending by the old master, the liquor is fragrant, sweet, mellow and palatable. Longer the liquor age, more flavor the fragrant. It’s the best sorghum wine in the wine.
