Chinese officials turn to home brew

Chinese government officials in the town of Baishun have begun brewing their own rice-based alcohol to keep costs down at official banquets.

Leaders from the area have reacted to calls from the Communist Party to reduce expenses in an industrious but unconventional way – rather than limiting their booze consumption at official banquets, they have decided to make their own alcohol.

According to the state-run Southern Rural Daily, Baishun, with a population of just fewer than 13,000 people, drinks around 100 jin (or 50 litres) of booze every month during official events.

While the white spirit of choice for such gatherings, baiju, sells for several hundred yuan a bottle, one official from the town said their own rice-based product – although lower in alcohol – would cost around 5 yuan (US$.80) per jin (500ml) including the expense of buying firewood to provide heat for the brewing process.

Such a saving would make a significant difference to Baishun officials, who are under pressure to reduce spending on banquets for government or business leaders, where delicacies and vast amounts of alcohol are consumed.

Baiju for sale in China

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, other cities have already reduced their consumption of luxury food and drink, such as the eastern city of Wenzhou, which banned the serving of shark’s fin and upmarket spirits at official dinners in July this year.

It’s widely believed that sales of extremely high-priced Baijus and international spirits Cognac and Scotch have been buoyed by decadent state banquets and gatherings, along with gifting among businessmen.