In China, civil servants have been banned from dining out in groups of more than three people. The restriction is part of an anti-corruption campaign and a tightening of discipline following a spate of deaths among officials linked to excessive alcohol consumption at banquets. This was reported by the agency Reuters.
According to the agency, local authorities attempted to cover up such incidents: they reached agreements with families and paid compensation. However, the cases became public, leading to disciplinary punishments for dozens of officials.
The new measures are aimed not only at alcohol consumption but also at manifestations of corruption, luxury and wastefulness. Officials are now prohibited from organising corporate dinners, using expensive transport and initiating dubious construction projects.
"The drinking culture among civil servants is indeed quite serious, but they haven't yet found a good solution, so they can only implement a 'one size fits all' policy," said Alfred Wu, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore.
For reference: 'One size fits all' is a concept used in various fields, including clothing manufacturing, politics and education. It means that the same size, rule, approach or solution is deemed suitable for everyone, regardless of individual characteristics or needs.
Meanwhile, the restrictions are being interpreted differently in different regions. In Sichuan, civil servants are advised to go straight home after work; in Anhui, alcohol tests are conducted daily; in Wuhan, it is forbidden to dine with colleagues from other departments; and in Shaanxi, even decorating desks with flowers is prohibited.
The measures align with Chairman Xi Jinping's drive to tighten party discipline and save budget funds. Experts note that this is also a tool for strengthening control over the bureaucratic apparatus amid internal instability and economic challenges.
Previously, we reported on a resolution by the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council of China, strengthening control over officials' spending. The document, consisting of 63 articles, aims to combat wastefulness. China's Finance Minister, Lan Fo'an, urged officials at the time to "tighten their belts" and spend budget funds carefully.
It is worth recalling that the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, also called for total austerity in budget spending and for it to be used only on the most pressing tasks.