升级版禁酒令(shēngjíbǎn jìnjiǔlìng): Upgraded drinking prohibition

The government of Shapingba district in Southwest China's Chongqing issued a new injunction in March, prohibiting its civil servants from drinking during official receptions. Many other local authorities have also issued bans on civil servants drinking during official business. For instance, some local authorities forbid civil servants from drinking during working hours, while other local authorities have interdicted civil servants drinking in the name of official social activities or celebrations.

The General Office of the State Council issued a regulation on the official receptions of government organizations and public institutions in December 2013, which stipulates that working lunches should not include cigarettes and expensive alcohol. Since then almost all local authorities have proscribed drinking during working hours and on official business, but the trend of drinking during official receptions hasn't been completely curbed.

Some local authorities' upgraded civil servant drinking prohibitions are much stricter than the central government's general requirement and they are expected to crack down on the unhealthy tendency of drinking during official receptions.

Whether the upgraded civil servant drinking rules can be effective depends on strict implementation and supervision. Local authorities should enhance the auditing of public funds and supervision of official receptions. Those who violate the bans should be held accountable.