Drinking with a single draught

Drinking in the China is not only about pleasure, it has much to do about respect, self一affirmation(自我肯定zìwǒ kěndìng), friendship and the perpetuation of traditions. In China, no wedding ceremony is complete unless the bride and groom perform the traditional jiaobeijiu(交杯酒jiāobēijiǔ), which requires the couple to drink from their respective glasses while intertwining their arms, without spilling(if a liquid spills or if you spill it, it accidentally flows over the edge of a container) alcohol. The jiaobeijiu is followed by a dutiful toast to each of the newlyweds' parents.

The fact that drinking is so deeply rooted in Chinese culture worries doctors who specialize in alcohol abuse, and some are calling for changes in drinking practises. A law that forbids the sale of beverages with an alcohol(drinks that can make people drunk, such as beer, wine, and whisky, can be referred to as alcohol) content of 0.5 per cent or higher to anyone under age 18 took effect on January 1.