Beijing, June 17 (Alliance News): Chinese authorities have intensified their austerity campaign by restricting civil servants from dining out in groups larger than three, following a spate of alcohol-related deaths at official banquets. The move is part of broader efforts to enforce President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption and party discipline agenda.
Revised regulations released in May prohibit extravagant dining, costly infrastructure projects, luxury vehicle fittings, and even ornamental office plants. The new rules come after at least three cadre deaths since April linked to excessive alcohol consumption, triggering disciplinary actions against dozens of officials in Hunan, Anhui, and Henan provinces.
According to a Communist Party post from Anhui province, cadres are urged to avoid forming “small cliques,” refrain from treating subordinates or superiors to meals, and steer clear of high-end venues. “Dining in groups of three or less is usually fine,” the post stated, adding that repeated gatherings with the same people are discouraged.
The directive has sparked backlash on social media, particularly from government workers who feel their personal lives are being micromanaged. “Eating alone is hedonism, eating in pairs is inappropriate, and eating in trios forms cliques,” read one viral comment from Hunan province. Civil servants have reported punishments for casual lunches, enforced breathalyzer tests, and even being told to remove office plants.
While some officials in Beijing and Guangdong downplayed excessive enforcement, others expressed support for the measures, citing relief from the culture of forced drinking at official events.
The crackdown supplements the “eight-point regulations” launched by Xi in 2012 to curb bureaucratic extravagance. Violations surged in recent months, with the number of officials penalized jumping from 9,292 in February to over 16,500 in April
