Forcing women to drink at business dinners has no place in modern China

A recent report of a female employee allegedly being assaulted at a drinking party in Hangzhou has resurfaced painful memories for many, including the author, who experienced similar pressures in business settings over a decade ago. In those times, young women were often expected to fulfill a specific role at business dinners, adhering to an unwritten rule where the most powerful guests were seated with two young women as companions.

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Everyone else is drinking. Why aren't you?

The primary duty for these women was to maintain lively conversation, entertain guests, and, crucially, ensure glasses were constantly refilled. The author admits to being a poor drinker but felt compelled to comply under pressure, often hearing, "Everyone else is drinking. Why aren't you?" This led to developing coping mechanisms, such as discreetly spitting baijiu into napkins, though this was not always successful.

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I drank it, blacked out later, vomited three or four times and spent the next day with a splitting headache.

One particularly vivid memory involves being ordered to drink a full glass of red wine, a "red apple." With no way to avoid it, the author drank the wine, subsequently blacking out, vomiting multiple times, and suffering a severe headache the next day. Beyond the physical discomfort, the author recalls a profound sense of shame, questioning why she couldn't match the drinking capacity of others.

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Why could everyone else drink but I couldn’t?

The ability to drink heavily was perceived as a vital professional skill. Women who could drink without apparent difficulty seemed admirable, possessing an understanding of social cues, appropriate toasts, and, most importantly, how to manage the mood at the table. The author felt her own physical limitations and personality traits were hindering her professional advancement, highlighting a deeply ingrained cultural expectation that placed women in a subordinate and often uncomfortable position within certain business environments.

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The ability to drink was seen as an important professional skill.