Guizhou bans alcohol during official functions

Guizhou government has banned serving of all alcohol at official functions for civil servants effective from Sept 1.

Rolling out the strictest regulation, the government said no alcohol, including those offered by individuals or organizations, will be served at official receptions and functions.

It bans civil servants from using public money to buy alcohol for official receptions and drinking during office hours and lunch break.

It also bans individuals from paying for alcohol for official functions as some people think it's OK as long as officials are not using public money.

Qiao Xinsheng, professor of law at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, said drinking by civil servants during working hours or at official receptions violates the rules as alcohol may affect their job performance. It's worse if public money is used.

But there are exceptions. The regulation specifies grand official receptions or those intended to attract investment that need to provide alcohol have to report to people in charge of the events and forward the records to discipline inspection commissions.

Guizhou is not the first region to ban alcohol. Zhejiang, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Anhui and Xinjiang already have similar move in place.

The ban aims to build awareness about the adverse effects of alcohol on those performing official duties. In 2013, the central government issued a regulation banning expensive delicacies, cigarettes and fine liquors at official receptions.